Savinho to Tottenham latest as Enzo Maresca confirms Man City illness update
Tottenham’s pursuit of Savinho has moved back into focus after Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed the winger missed training through illness, with Spurs still working on a deal for one of their leading attacking targets. According to Standard, the Brazil international remains firmly on Tottenham’s radar as they try to sharpen Roberto De Zerbi’s frontline before the window closes on September 1.
Maresca addressed Savinho’s absence before the Community Shield meeting with Arsenal and said, “Yesterday he was not part of the session,” before adding, “He was a bit ill.” The City boss then made clear a final call was still to come, saying, “We’ll see today, the session is in the afternoon, we’ll see how it is and we’ll decide.”
Tottenham transfer plans around Savinho
Those comments arrive at a time when Tottenham are understood to be advancing their thinking around a possible move. Savinho has been described as a priority option for much of the summer, and the wider context makes the situation especially notable. The 22-year-old is reported to want more regular first-team football after starting only seven Premier League matches last season and scoring once.
There has also been fresh reporting that Savinho has reiterated his wish to leave the Etihad and join Spurs. Any deal would still be expensive, with City said to want around £65 million for a player they signed from Troyes for £30m in 2024. That valuation is significant, though Tottenham have already shown major ambition in this market.
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Spurs squad build under Roberto De Zerbi
So far, Tottenham’s spending has centred more heavily on midfield and defence. Around £229m has gone on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, while Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka have also arrived as free agents. The next phase of the squad build looks increasingly likely to focus on the attack.
Cody Gakpo and Folarin Balogun continue to be linked, but Savinho brings a profile that feels particularly attractive, direct running, one-against-one quality and room for further growth. For a club trying to add greater unpredictability in the final third, that matters.
Manchester City stance and wider market movement
City, meanwhile, are reshaping under Maresca. Sales have already included James Trafford, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, while £116m has been committed to Elliot Anderson alongside moves for Geronimo Rulli, Pierce Charles, Mathys Detourbet and Jeremy Monga. Against that backdrop, Savinho’s future remains one to watch closely.
Elsewhere, City are also facing a deadline in their efforts to sign Enzo Fernandez, with Chelsea holding out for £120m, while Barcelona are expected to return for Rodri. It all adds to a hectic backdrop, though from a Tottenham perspective the key point is straightforward, Savinho remains a live possibility.
Our View
From a Tottenham supporter’s perspective, this is exactly the sort of update that keeps the belief alive. The illness news on its own does not change much, but the bigger picture certainly does. If Savinho really wants the move and Spurs have been working on it for much of the summer, then there is every reason to think this one has substance.
What makes it exciting is the fit. Tottenham need more spark in the forward line, more pace, more ability to beat a defender and create something from very little. Savinho looks like that kind of player. Under Roberto De Zerbi, you can imagine him receiving wide, driving inside and causing chaos. That sort of profile could elevate the whole attack.
The fee would be huge at around £65 million, and supporters will naturally wonder if that money could be spread across multiple positions. Even so, top-level attackers cost top-level money. Spurs have already invested heavily elsewhere, so it would make sense if the final major push of the window was for a difference-maker up front.
There is also encouragement in the fact Tottenham are being linked with multiple attacking names. That suggests the club know exactly where the squad still needs help. If Savinho is the preferred option, then this feels like a deal worth pushing hard for. For Spurs fans, the hope is simple, turn the interest into action and give De Zerbi the kind of wide threat who can transform games.