Tottenham are rekindling interest in a £60million move for Manchester City winger Savinho as they draw up plans for a summer rebuild after escaping relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.
The 22-year-old Brazilian was a target last summer, with initial offers made and rejected, yet Pep Guardiola wanted to keep him at the Etihad Stadium unless City were able to find better in the market.
Savinho cost City £30.8m from sister club Girona and they wanted over £70m for him last summer. He was willing to make the move to north London but ultimately Guardiola said he needed him as cover. He made 35 appearances this season but predominantly from the bench, and in his two seasons at City has just two league goals in 52 games.
Spurs have also made enquiries for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, but the 19-year-old winger is now expected to choose between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. Diomande, who is heading to the World Cup this summer with Ivory Coast, is likely to be costly too, at around €100million (£86m).
Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi said after the 1-0 win over Everton which staved off relegation that a core group of around 12 players will remain part of his plans going forward, but he will demand a strong summer of change to make the squad competitive once again.
Sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham had already determined that the club should add more leaders to the dressing room rather than target just younger talents so talks are advanced with Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Bournemouth centre back Marcos Senesi.
Tottenham have rekindled their interest in Manchester City winger Savinho
They have also enquired about RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande (left), but he is expected to go to either Liverpool or PSG
They have also sounded out Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow and England international James Trafford, also at Manchester City, is another firmly on their radar.
Club captain Cristian Romero is expected to depart with hope that Atletico Madrid rekindle their interest. The Argentine centre back did little to endear himself to supporters and past players by taking a trip back home, where he planned to support his boyhood club Belgrano, before seeing sense to return after a backlash.
De Zerbi wants the club to make swift progress in the market ahead of what will be a very competitive window.
‘From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build a new team. I think we have not to change too…