Manchester City shortlisted Paris Saint-Germain forward as potential Savinho replacement | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City had reportedly identified one of Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar forwards as a potential replacement for Savinho in the summer.

The Brazil international was at the heart of one of the most drawn-out storylines of the transfer window, with Tottenham launching multiple big-money approaches in an effort to prise him away from Pep Guardiola’s side.

Despite an offer reaching around the €70 million mark, Manchester City stood firm and declared the winger untouchable, confirming his importance to both the present squad and the future direction of the club.

For all of Tottenham’s persistence, the reigning Premier League giants showed no willingness to budge. Pep Guardiola’s side instead viewed Savinho’s breakthrough campaign at the Etihad Stadium as a foundation to build on.

Even so, contingency plans were quietly considered behind the scenes. Manchester City’s recruitment department, led by new arrival Hugo Viana, has long maintained a policy of preparing alternatives in case of sudden departures or injuries.

According to the information of FootMercato’s Santi Aouna and Sébastien Denis, while Savinho’s departure was considered as a possibility within the Etihad Stadium during the summer, Manchester City placed PSG’s Bradley Barcola high on their shortlist of replacements.

However, with the Brazilian international forward remaining within Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad beyond the transfer deadline, the report insists that Manchester City did not make any progress on the Frenchman.

The link to Barcola underlines the calibre of player City are monitoring in case future departures do materialise. The 23-year-old French forward, who joined PSG from Lyon in 2023, has impressed with his pace, direct dribbling style, and versatility across the front line.

Looking ahead, Manchester City’s refusal to sell Savinho means the PSG winger is unlikely to become a priority in the near term. However, the existence of such a shortlist suggests that Guardiola’s side will not be caught off guard should serious offers arrive in future windows.

For now, attention turns back to Savinho himself. Having recently returned to training after an injury setback, the Brazilian could soon make his mark in huge fixtures against Manchester United, Napoli, and Arsenal after the international break.