How Spurs could repeat their Savio transfer before the deadline

As we approached half-time on Wednesday night, Tottenham Hotspur supporters must have been wondering what it would take to see their team score a goal.

After a jaw-dropping summer transfer window, their performances on the pitch up to that point had been anything but good.

A 3-0 defeat to Brentford was followed by 40 minutes of huffing and puffing against Championship side Charlton Athletic. However, after Mikey Moore scored just a minute later, the floodgates opened.

Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

It was soon 2-0 courtesy of Dominic Solanke before Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and Savio put the finishing touches on a 5-1 rout.

How Savio impressed on his Spurs debut

Spurs only confirmed the signing of Savinho on Tuesday afternoon but Roberto De Zerbi wasted no time, including him in the squad for the clash with the Addicks.

While the Brazilian did not start the game, he came off the bench with just under 20 minutes left and made a devastating impact.

Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Moore had enjoyed a productive night on the same flank, scoring and assisting and when it was Savio’s turn, he had a similar impact on the game.

One of the biggest concerns regarding his arrival in north London is a lack of goals. For Manchester City, the 22-year-old only found the net on seven occasions in 84 games.

Well, he sent a firm message to the manager and indeed the fans by scoring a brilliant goal in midweek. Savio cut inside, darted past a player and then slammed the ball home at the near post. His celebration was a jubilant one. It was like he had scored in a cup final, rather than the second round of the League Cup.

He was involved again for the final goal of the game and was perhaps unfortunate not to leave the field at the end of match with two goals to his name.

Savio certainly thought he had netted twice. Dancing into the box, he checked back and then pulled the trigger. The ball rolled into the bottom corner and Savio darted away before uprooting the corner flag in his celebration.

The goal, however, was awarded to Davies. The ball had deflected off the Welshman before finding the net.

Despite that, it was still a mightily impressive debut, one that gives the winger an exceptional platform to go on and become a real star at Tottenham.

How Spurs could sign another Savio

A busy transfer window is culminating in yet more business for Spurs. Savio’s former City colleague in Omar Marmoush has also put pen to paper this week.

REUTERS/Peter Powell

Despite that, the recruitment team are targeting one last forward addition. Plenty of names have been linked with Nicolas Jackson one striker on their radar before his move to Aston Villa really ramped up.

There have also been suggestions that Jackson’s teammates in Pedro Neto and Mykhailo Mudryk are options in the remaining days of the window.

However, the likely arrival will be Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo. It will not be an easy deal to complete but if the Reds welcome another winger alongside £120m man Bradley Barcola, the Dutchman could be free to leave the club.

The latest on Tottenham’s pursuit comes from Fabrizio Romano who in a Thursday afternoon video on YouTube declared that “Tottenham and Manchester City are in constant contact to understand the situation”, further referencing that Gakpo has already agreed personal terms with the Londoners. The latter we already knew from prior reports in recent weeks.

If De Zerbi was able to get this one across the line then it would surely be one of their better signings this summer. Reportedly valued at £75m, it would be another marquee addition but one, like Savio, who could make an instant impact in the final third, someone who could be a huge upgrade on what they already have.

While Moore looks likely to head out on loan and did play against Charlton, the difference between him and Savio on Wednesday was clear to see.

Everything the Brazilian did was performed with a swagger, with confidence and with such authority, authority that Moore just doesn’t half at the tender age of 19.

REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Likewise, Gakpo’s arrival would also be felt immediately, albeit on the opposite flank. Why? Well, as Mathys Tel has proven, he is still a very inconsistent winger.

He was electric in pre-season, scoring a beauty of a free-kick against Sydney FC and popping up with three assists across the rest of their preperations.

Tel caught the eye again last weekend by successfully completing six dribbles but his end product, as it so often has been at Spurs, was lacking. He didn’t have a single shot on target.

The young Frenchman was quiet against Charlton too. This time around, he only completed one of his six dribble attempts and won just two of his duels.

Combine that with his four-goal tally from last season and time is surely running out for him to nail down a regular starting berth. The arrival of Gakpo, as Moore will no doubt find out with Savinho, will only dampen the chances he has of receiving minutes.

The Dutchman is a mightily experienced player at the age of 27 and lest we forget, was such a huge part of the Liverpool team who won the title under Arne Slot, scoring 18 times in all competitions back in 2024/25.

If Spurs can get a similar tune out of him, he would be a cracking acquisition.