Tottenham Pursues Savinho as City Eyes PSG's Mbaye

Tottenham Hotspur’s long pursuit of Savinho is finally reaching the decisive stage – and Manchester City are already moving to plug the gap his exit will leave.

Spurs first tried to prise the Brazilian winger away from City last summer, tabling an offer that climbed towards £60million. City resisted. Savinho stayed, and the London club were sent away with a firm “not for sale”.

City even explored their own contingency plan at the time, sounding out Real Madrid over Rodrygo as a possible replacement. Nothing came of it. Rodrygo stayed in Madrid, Savinho stayed in Manchester, and the window closed with everyone apparently locked in.

Savinho then signed a new six-year deal at the Etihad, a move that looked like the end of the story. For a while, it was. The fresh contract quietened talk of a move and seemed to signal Pep Guardiola’s faith in the 22-year-old.

But it never quite killed Tottenham’s interest.

The winger had been keen on the idea of becoming a central figure in north London, feeling underused under Guardiola. That feeling has lingered, and Spurs have circled back. This time, they look like getting their man.

Spurs go all-in on their No 1 winger target

On Thursday, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano cut through the noise around Tottenham’s search for wide players. Antonio Vergara of Napoli? Forget it.

“I also wanted to clarify that the links between Tottenham Hotspur and Antonio Vergara are not true. Vergara is not a target for Tottenham,” Romano said, stressing that the 20-year-old is instead signing a new deal at Napoli, with a salary rise to follow.

The message was clear: the rumours around Vergara were just that – rumours recycled from the end of May and June. The real focus is Savinho.

“Don’t forget that Tottenham want to sign Savinho. The player they want for winger position is Savinho. So let’s see what’s gonna happen there,” Romano added.

According to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, what’s happening is significant. Spurs are described as “edging closer” to completing a deal, with the fee now around £65m. Savinho wants the move, and personal terms are not expected to be a problem. This is a transfer set up to move quickly once the final details between the clubs are settled.

Tottenham have looked at other options. Cody Gakpo’s name has been on their list, but Liverpool have made their stance clear: he is going nowhere this summer as they look to strengthen, not weaken, their own wide areas.

Rafael Leao has also been in the frame. On July 5, it emerged that the AC Milan star had given the green light to a potential €50m (£42m) switch to Spurs. For most clubs, that kind of opportunity would be irresistible.

Yet Tottenham, guided by Ange Postecoglou’s vision of a dynamic, vertical front line, appear to have made their choice. They want Savinho. They are prepared to pay significantly more for him than for Leao. That is a statement.

City turn to PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye

City, for their part, are already working on the next step.

Jones reports that the Premier League champions are among several clubs monitoring Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye. The 18-year-old, who caught the eye for Senegal at the World Cup, is ready to leave PSG this summer in search of regular football, aware that his path into the first team in Paris is only getting more crowded.

“Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and RB Leipzig are among the clubs monitoring developments with Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye,” Jones wrote, adding that the teenager is now represented by Jorge Mendes, one of the most influential agents in the game.

City’s interest is framed directly against Savinho’s likely departure: “City are looking for wingers as they close the sale of Savinho to Tottenham for around £65million. They had enquired about Rodrygo at Real Madrid last year but have other options too.”

The pattern is familiar. City sell at a premium, then pivot swiftly to the next emerging talent. Mbaye, with his World Cup exposure and elite representation, fits that profile neatly.

A decisive call from Tottenham

For Tottenham, this is more than a big-money signing. It is a clear, deliberate choice about the type of team they want to be.

They have walked away from the possibility of Leao at a lower fee. They have accepted Liverpool’s stance on Gakpo. They have ignored the noise around Vergara. All roads now lead to Savinho.

If the final numbers land where expected and the Brazilian walks into Hotspur Way as a £65m signing, he will do so knowing the club have built their summer attacking plans around him. That kind of commitment brings pressure, but it also brings status.

Spurs wanted a winger to define the next phase of Postecoglou’s project. They have decided Savinho is that player. Now the question is simple: can he be the one to turn intent and investment into the kind of cutting edge that changes seasons?