Man City ‘Agree’ Deal for Savinho Replacement, Next Winger Target Revealed
Manchester City won’t end the 2026 summer transfer window just by spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars on Ayyoub Bouaddi and another premium, perhaps even club record-breaking, central midfielder. Wingers are on the radar, too.
City’s mega sales, which include cashing in on Tiijani Reijnders, Rodri, Savinho, Omar Marmoush and James Trafford, have funded the midfield rebuild to the point of just a negligible net spend this window, should $164 million-rated Enzo Fernández be the third midfield recruit. It would even be a net profit, should the third midfielder prove to be Alexis Mac Allister, Adam Wharton or Alex Scott.
It leaves scope to keep going in a bid to equip new manager Enzo Maresca with a squad deemed capable of challenging reigning champions Arsenal for this season’s title.
Wingers are in shorter supply than they were, with Jérémy Doku, Antoine Semenyo and a returning Jack Grealish the options at Maresca’s disposal. It would also be no great shock to see Grealish move on before the transfer window closes after spending last season at Everton.
Man City ‘Agree’ Deal for Savinho Replacement
Allan is not really known outside Brazil. / Pedro H. Tesch/Getty Images
According to The Athletic, a slightly surprising deal for one wide attacker has already been agreed. For Allan Elias, City will pay Brazilian club Palmeiras—the team that has in recent years produced Gabriel Jesus, Endrick and Estêvão—a guaranteed $43.7 million (£32.1 million), topped up to a potential maximum fee of $46.7 million (£34.3 million) with minor add-ons.
It is less than half the value of a release clause that was initially thought to be the asking price.
The emerging talent is not a raw teenage explosion like Endrick or Estêvão have been, but a slightly more established 22-year-old with a record of 21 goals and assists in 96 games.
Having yet to represent his country at any international level, which may come as a shock given his age and price, he is considered a strong dribbler, but also works hard off the ball and therefore has wingback capability. Allan is left footed, operating on the right, which suggests directly replacing Savinho.
Cody Gakpo Transfer Battle Brewing
Man City are now looking at Cody Gakpo, too. / Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Allan is not the only winger potentially set to arrive at the Etihad Stadium before next Tuesday, because a separate report from The Athletic states City’s interest in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo.
It’s a shock turn of events. Gakpo frustrated Liverpool fans last season and was tipped to leave Anfield this summer because the Reds sought an upgrade. But with Tottenham Hotspur resurrecting interest of years gone by and a starring role in an otherwise fractured Liverpool performance against Newcastle United on Sunday, Gakpo is suddenly back in vogue.
There is not much to it just yet, with no “club-to-club talks” having taken place at this stage. Gakpo signed a new five-year contract only last August, though, so Liverpool hold all the power if it reaches the negotiating table and were reported earlier in the summer to not want to sell.
Gakpo almost certainly wouldn’t start in City’s strongest team but could prove to be smart cover for either Doku on the left, or Haaland in the No. 9 role now that Marmoush is leaving. The question is whether he’d give up a starting job in an inferior team for a backup role in a better one.
