Manchester City have agreed to sell Savinho to Tottenham for a guaranteed £80m, more than doubling their money on a player who managed just two Premier League goals. The deal stands as City's record sale, yet it also highlights growing concerns about the club's recruitment since at least 2024.
Savinho's exit follows a difficult two years at the Etihad
Savinho signed a new six-year deal after just 12 months at Manchester City, but as soon as the next season had finished he was again linked with a move to Tottenham. The player went to London straight from City's parade, and a social media post from Fabrizio Romano claiming Savinho wanted the move was liked by one of the winger's representatives.
When City reached out to the stray liker, they could not understand what they had done wrong. 'Oh', they said, when it was explained to them that player representatives probably shouldn't be so naked in trying to get moves; they hadn't realised what the text said and just thought it was a picture of their player.
It is difficult to believe that explanation, given the same on-the-nose behaviour that brought Savinho posting a picture of a suitcase on his social media last summer while he was injured and wanting a move, and the sore throat that has stopped him from taking part in City training or the Community Shield since coming back from the tour. At best, it is needless, and it is fair to say that Savinho has not convinced or charmed many at the Etihad in his two years.
Record fee offers little comfort over recruitment
If it is good that City can get a substantial fee to move on, there isn't much reason to smile about the overall transfer. City's record sale also looks one of their worst buys, as somebody who was supposed to be a poster boy for the City Football Group instead became a marker of worrying recruitment since at least 2024.
From very early on, Savinho looked to be lacking in both the ability and mentality required to keep City winning titles. Both can be coached, yet the progress never arrived. Given Tijjani Reijnders has already been sold and Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush could follow in the next fortnight, the problem becomes less about an individual player and more about a recruitment team that have brought in multiple players who are unsuited to City.
That isn't to say that they can't thrive elsewhere, but the point of City's recruitment team is to get players that can shine at the Etihad without care for anywhere else. Specific qualities are needed for the specific environment, and Savinho can't be seen as a one-off when a whole host of players signed in the last two years are now being moved on.
City face a race against the clock to replace departures
The club have said they are intent on replacing anyone who leaves this summer, which leaves them with a lot of work to do in not a lot of days. Not only that, they have to buy players who fit the qualities City need in a way that too many of the last few years evidently have not.
It is exceptional that City are able to sell these players on and get their money back when they have not added value to the team, and that allows the Blues to try again. That will only help if the club get things right this time though, and they are up against the clock to do so.
