Tottenham and Manchester City supposedly aren't any closer to striking a deal for Savinho, but at least the Cityzens are finally making progress in signing a potential replacement.
This saga is continuing to frustrate, with the unrelenting social media updates that are part and parcel of transfer discourse merely enhancing the dreariness.
Fabrizio Romano is barely changing a word from one post to the next. The Italian journalist maintains that Savinho remains Spurs' priority, yet the club hasn't moved with the decisiveness that helped them land Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for record fees.
We've dallied around the Brazilian in back-to-back summer windows. City eventually blocked his departure last year, and they're failing to play ball this time around. We remain at loggerheads in negotiations, but that could change if Pedro Neto reunites with Enzo Maresca in Manchester.
Man City's Pedro Neto should aid Spurs' dull Savinho pursuit
Fabrizio exclusively reported on Tuesday that City have opened talks with Neto's representatives over a possible move, but are yet to discuss a transfer with Chelsea. He adds that the likelihood of a deal being struck will depend on the Blues' valuation.
While Spurs are hopeful that City's interest in the Portuguese international will set the wheels in motion for Savinho to arrive in north London, Neto is regarded as a contingency plan.
I wasn't fond of the Neto links when they briefly emerged earlier in the summer window, and I'm still not a fan. He may have recorded 20 goal contributions in all competitions last term, but the 26-year-old is a head-down wide man bereft of craft. I appreciate his athleticism, capacity to stretch defences and willingness to run himself into the ground defensively, but he just doesn't do it for me.
Savinho's output over the past two years doesn't compare, but he's far more technically secure than Neto and boasts a better 'feel' for the ball than his Portuguese counterpart. That's the best way I can describe it—'feel'. The sport comes more naturally to him.
The Brazilian's first preseason outing of the summer showcased his capacity to perform down both flanks, driving inside with silky vigour from the right and effectively standing up his man one-on-one on the left.
There's so much untapped potential to extract, and the 22-year-old is desperate for a north London switch. Personal terms have been agreed, we're just waiting on the two clubs to reach a compromise. Hopefully, Maresca's Neto obsession unlocks the deal.
Add us as a preferred source on Google