Tottenham Hotspur appear to be edging closer to a potential deal for Manchester City winger Savinho, according to reports from Standard Sport, with the north London club also holding talks over a separate move for his City teammate Omar Marmoush as they look to strengthen their attacking options this summer.
The Brazilian winger has long been a target for Spurs, who were unable to complete a deal for him last summer before he ultimately joined Manchester City. Since then, his situation at the Etihad Stadium appears to have shifted significantly, particularly following the arrival of new head coach Enzo Maresca.
According to the report, Savinho has made his desire to leave City clear after falling out of favor under former manager Pep Guardiola. That stance has reportedly continued under Maresca, who left the 21-year-old out of his squad for last weekend's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. Savinho was said to have missed training beforehand due to illness, further fueling speculation over his City future.
For Tottenham to complete a move, however, Manchester City must first identify and secure a replacement. As reported by The Athletic, City have identified Palmeiras winger Allan Elias as one of several candidates being considered to fill the void left by Savinho's potential departure.
Elias, 22, has emerged as one of Brazilian football's most sought-after young talents and has previously attracted interest from Liverpool as well. The winger carries a substantial release clause of €100 million (£85 million) at Palmeiras, reflecting the club's desire to keep him despite continued interest from Europe's top leagues.
Palmeiras have built a reputation in recent years for developing and selling high-profile young players to major European clubs. Elias is now considered the likely next big-money departure from the Brazilian club, following in the footsteps of Endrick, who moved to Real Madrid, and Estevao, who completed a transfer to Chelsea.
Should Manchester City manage to strike an agreement with Palmeiras for Elias, it is understood that this would effectively open the door for Savinho's transfer to Tottenham to proceed. The winger's homegrown situation and the domino effect involving multiple South American talents highlights the increasingly interconnected nature of the current transfer market, with several major clubs positioning themselves for a summer of significant squad rebuilding.
Tottenham's interest in bolstering their attacking ranks comes as no surprise given their ambitions under their current project, with the club keen to add depth and creativity out wide. Marmoush, another Manchester City player, has also been linked as part of Spurs' broader efforts to reshape their forward line this transfer window.
For Manchester City, the situation represents a broader reshuffling of their squad following a mixed period of form and results. Maresca's decision to exclude Savinho from his matchday plans for the Community Shield suggests the club may already be preparing for his departure, even as they continue exploring the market for a direct replacement.
With Palmeiras keen to retain Elias and his substantial release clause acting as a deterrent, it remains to be seen whether Manchester City can conclude a deal that would set the stage for Savinho's move to Tottenham. Both situations are likely to develop further as the transfer window progresses, with all parties working to finalize their respective squads before the new season gets underway.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.