Manchester City are on the brink of completing a deal for Atletico Mineiro winger Savio, beating off interest from Arsenal and Red Bull Salzburg in the process, as per reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Writing in the Guardian, Romano reveals that City have made an opening bid of £5.5 million which would also feature additional add-ons and a sell-on clause were it to be accepted, with the 17 year old in high demand in Europe.
Both Arsenal and the Red Bull clubs were seemingly in the hunt for the youngster’s signature, with Savio of course hailing comparisons to Neymar and Vinicius Junior due to his play style and position.
Manchester City are leading the race to sign Savinho – talented Brazilian winger born in 2004 🇧🇷 #MCFC
Official bid to Atletico Mineiro: €6.5m plus add-ons and sell-on. Next destination could be PSV Eindhoven on loan.
Arsenal and Red Bull Group also had contacts to sign Sávio. pic.twitter.com/sgH0AOk5Z2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 15, 2022
Out of contract in 2023, any deal for the 2004-born winger would lead to him leaving, and could see him loaned out for the 2022/23 season, with PSV Eindhoven touted as a possible destination for the wide player.
Arsenal miss out on Martinelli repeat
Arsenal, of course, are no strangers to the Brazilian market. This is in part thanks to Technical director Edu, who is of course Brazilian, but their biggest coup came before he arrived in the form of Gabriel Martinelli.
Plucked out of Brazilian side Ituano in the summer of 2019, he has been a shining light for the Gunners ever since, and was hailed as the talent of the century by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in 2019, before he doubled down on those claims this campaign after their Carabao Cup encounter.
Arsenal will be hoping that in Savio, they have not missed another Martinelli.
