Tottenham now have a verbal agreement with Savinho, while talks with Manchester City are moving towards an £85m (€98m) package for the Brazilian.
ESPN Brazil journalist Bruno Andrade brings the latest update after we covered on Thursday that Spurs had offered £85m (€98m).
There is an important clarification on that figure. Andrade says Tottenham won’t pay £85m (€98m) as a guaranteed fixed fee. That is the overall package being discussed between the clubs.
The exact structure is still being worked out. It is still undisclosed whether that means, for example, £70m plus £15m, £75m plus £10m or £80m plus £5m.
What he has been able to confirm is the total: the operation is expected to reach £85m (€98m).
Verbal agreement already reached
On top of that, Savinho and Tottenham have already verbally agreed terms for his contract.
Andrade says there is “no problem whatsoever” between Spurs and the player. That green light was already there weeks ago. The clubs have also been talking and reaching an understanding over the transfer.
What’s missing is the detailed formal proposal setting out exactly how Tottenham intend to reach that £85m (€98m) package.
There’s another interesting detail here. Roberto De Zerbi has spoken to Savinho several times as we know, and Andrade says the Tottenham manager “convinced Savinho to leave City”.
Savinho then made his position clear to Enzo Maresca. Despite being involved and performing well during City’s pre-season, he told the new manager he wanted to leave for Tottenham.
City won’t keep unhappy player
Manchester City’s attitude should also help Spurs. Andrade says he was specifically told City don’t like keeping unhappy players.
That doesn’t mean they’ll sell cheaply or rush into accepting whatever is offered. They simply prefer finding a transfer solution instead of keeping someone who clearly wants out.
And Savinho clearly wants out. The journalist is now extremely confident about where this is heading. He says the Brazilian “will leave” and goes as far as saying they can “safely say” Savinho will become a Tottenham player.
In the end the £85m (€98m) headline needed this little context. Tottenham aren’t preparing to hand City that entire amount upfront. Either way, the deal will go through.
