Despite winning the Premier League last season, Manchester City was not consistently at their peak performance throughout much of the campaign.
Jeremy Doku exhibited moments of brilliance but ultimately provided little in terms of tangible results. Jack Grealish spent much of the season relegated to the bench, while Erling Haaland scored 14 fewer goals in all competitions compared to his debut season with City.
Phil Foden played a crucial role in compensating for the decline in attacking efficiency by delivering an outstanding season that earned him the Premier League’s Player of the Year award. However, it remains uncertain if Foden can maintain the high standards he set last year.
To support Foden and ease the creative burden on Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City aimed to acquire the highly skilled winger Savio from their sister club Troyes.
The 20-year-old, sometimes referred to as Savinho, joined the City Group team Troyes from Atletico Mineiro two years ago. However, he never played a game for Troyes, spending the 2022/23 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven and the 2023/24 season on loan at Girona, another City Group team.
During his loan at Girona, Savio excelled, recording nine goals and 10 assists in LaLiga, significantly contributing to Girona qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Manchester City believes that the time is right for Savio to make an impact at the Etihad. According to reports from Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic, City has secured a deal for Savio.
Savio will join Manchester City after the conclusion of the Copa America, signing a five-year contract with the club. He is currently on duty with Brazil, having recently scored in their 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
The exact amount City will pay for Savio is not yet clear, with reports varying, but the final fee is believed to be in the range of £25 million to £40 million.
Once the transfer is completed, Savio will not be loaned out again. Manchester City believes he can make an immediate impact next season and he will be given plenty of opportunities to prove his worth.
Unlike the modern trend of inverting wingers, Savio is a left-footed winger who primarily played on the left side while on loan at Girona.
Joao Cancelo could be the key to unlocking a major Barcelona swap deal.
Reports from Spain suggest that Manchester City is in a strong position to sign Barcelona’s star defender Ronald Araujo.
Araujo, currently playing in the Copa America for Uruguay, might not have a future at Barcelona upon his return. Rumors are swirling that Araujo, feeling significantly underpaid, wants to leave. The 25-year-old extended his contract with Barcelona in 2022 on terms favorable to the club, with an informal agreement that he would receive a financial boost once the club’s financial situation improved.
However, two years later, Barcelona’s financial situation has not improved, and Araujo has yet to receive a substantial pay raise. With two years left on his contract, reports indicate that Barcelona might be forced to sell him if he refuses to sign a new deal that better reflects his status as a top player.
Barcelona is reportedly seeking a massive €120 million fee for Araujo in a straight cash deal, equivalent to £101.6 million, which would require Manchester City to break their transfer record. Their current record is the £100 million spent on Jack Grealish in 2021.
To make the deal more financially manageable, Manchester City could leverage Barcelona’s interest in Joao Cancelo. Cancelo, who has no future at Manchester City, returned to the club after a successful loan spell in Catalonia. Barcelona is keen to re-sign both Cancelo and fellow Portuguese loanee Joao Felix, but their financial limitations are hindering progress.
Including Cancelo in a cash-plus-player deal for Araujo could be the solution that benefits both clubs.
