Tottenham did well to bring in Savio as part of the attacking reshuffle at N17 under Roberto De Zerbi.
A long-standing transfer saga finally came to an end when Tottenham announced the arrival of Savio from Manchester City on a long-term deal. The Brazilian had been on the club’s radar for a long time as they looked to bolster their attack under Roberto de Zerbi. Interest in him grew even further after it was confirmed during the latter stages of last season that both Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert had suffered ACL ruptures. As a result, bringing in a new winger suddenly became a priority for the North Londoners.
Savio, formerly known as Savinho, arrived at N17 for approximately £75m, plus another £10m in achievable add-ons. It is not lost on the club that they paid a hefty price for a player who was not even a regular in the starting eleven at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola last season. The 22-year-old struggled for game time and fell further down the pecking order after the Cityzens brought in Antoine Semenyo during the January transfer window.
As a result, it only made sense for him to leave the club this summer, despite signing a new deal last October. It is fair to say that Savio’s arrival has added some much-needed depth to the final third for Spurs. The talented winger has already shown glimpses of his true potential for the Lilywhites, thanks to an impressive debut against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup last week. Scoring a goal and providing an assist on his first appearance was certainly one way to announce himself on the big stage.
Tottenham’s determination to land Savio paid off
Tottenham had been in the market for a new winger since Brennan Johnson left the club midway through last season. There was not enough depth in the wide areas during the latter stages of the campaign, with the ongoing injury crisis at N17 ruling out Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, and Wilson Odobert with long-term setbacks. Therefore, bringing in Savio made perfect sense at a time when Roberto de Zerbi lacked options on the flanks at the start of the current campaign.
Savio’s arrival, in more ways than one, marked the beginning of a new era for the North Londoners. The club showed clear intent by bringing in the talented winger and were not deterred by the asking price set by Manchester City for his signature. With the 22-year-old also pushing for a move to N17, it became easier for Spurs to negotiate a deal as they quickly agreed personal terms with the player over a long-term contract.
The Athletic has now explained Spurs’ thought process behind bringing in Savio at a premium price. As revealed by Jack Pitt-Brooke,
“There was a feeling at the club that it was worth paying a premium for Savio because he was their top target and a player they viewed as one of the most talented young wingers in the world. Spurs did not want to compromise by spending less money on a second-choice option who might not be the right long-term fit.”
Savio or nothing for Tottenham?
As revealed by The Athletic, Tottenham had a clear plan in place to land their first-choice targets this summer. The club managed to do exactly that by bringing in players who had their hearts set on a move to N17 and playing under Roberto de Zerbi. The Lilywhites saw Savio as one of the most talented wingers in the world who needed to be nurtured properly. Not only that, but the North Londoners also wanted a long-term fit on the flanks at N17, with Savio emerging as the standout name in that category.
So, it makes sense why Spurs spent a fortune to land the 22-year-old earlier last week. He is the perfect fit for Roberto de Zerbi’s system, can play on either flank, has a high ceiling, can take on his marker, and create numerous goal-scoring opportunities. That cutting edge in the final third is exactly what was missing for the Lilywhites last season. Therefore, signing Savio could prove to be a masterstroke, even if it means that the North Londoners overpaid for his signature.