Tottenham agree £85m deal for Savinho and hold talks for Omar Marmoush

Agreement for Savinho

Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal worth up to £85 million to sign Brazilian winger Savinho from Manchester City on 21 August 2026. The financial package comprises a basic fee of £75 million ($102 million) alongside £10 million in performance add-ons, with £5 million guaranteed to ensure Manchester City receive at least £80 million. The agreement represents City's club-record sale, yielding a profit of roughly £55 million on the £30.8 million (€40 million) paid when they acquired him from sister club Troyes in 2024. Savinho made 36 appearances for Manchester City last season across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing two assists, but saw his league minutes reduced to 821 after the January arrival of Antoine Semenyo. The 22-year-old winger prepares to travel for medical examinations after the two clubs reached a verbal agreement.

Negotiations for Omar Marmoush

Alongside the agreement for Savinho, Tottenham advanced separate discussions with Manchester City regarding Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush for a fee of approximately £75 million. Manchester City originally bought Marmoush in January 2025 for £59 million, though his starting opportunities remained limited behind Erling Haaland. If completed, the combined £160 million double acquisition from Manchester City would push Tottenham's total expenditure for the transfer window to £387 million. Spurs sought additional attacking options as striker Dominic Solanke dealt with injury setbacks over the previous 18 months and Richarlison entered the final year of his contract. The recruitment push follows a 2025-26 campaign where Tottenham secured Premier League survival on the final day with a 1-0 victory over Everton, finishing 17th.

Summer recruitment under Roberto De Zerbi

The addition of Savinho follows several early investments overseen by head coach Roberto De Zerbi and the club's ownership. Tottenham began the transfer window in June by signing defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi as well as goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on free transfers, followed by the £52 million (€60 million) purchase of centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton. In July, Tottenham committed £85 million (€99 million) to sign midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and £100 million (€110 million) to recruit midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. De Zerbi, who took over during the closing stages of the previous season and secured three wins and two draws in his final seven fixtures, identified a requirement to reshape the core of the team.

Leadership reshuffle and tactical additions

The squad changes coincide with a reorganisation of Tottenham's leadership group following the departure of former captain Cristian Romero, who completed a £34.1 million move to Atletico Madrid. De Zerbi confirmed that Dutch international defender Micky van de Ven will serve as the club's new captain after signing a long-term contract extension. Full-back Pedro Porro was appointed vice-captain, with Ben Davies, James Maddison, and Archie Gray named as the third, fourth, and fifth captains. Van de Ven, Porro, and Pape Matar Sarr are ruled out for the Premier League season opener against Brentford. In wide attacking positions, the arrival of Savinho addresses squad shortages caused by Brennan Johnson's January exit and long-term injuries to Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert.