Blues Eye Brazilian Talent as Tottenham Circle Savinho
Manchester City's recruitment team have identified Palmeiras winger Allan Elias as a primary target, with the 22-year-old one of several names on a list drawn up for the current window. The Brazilian club, however, are digging in.
Palmeiras maintain Elias is not for sale this summer, despite a release clause in his contract set at €100 million. Whether that figure proves a ceiling or a starting point remains to be seen.
The pursuit comes as City brace for the departure of Savinho, who is pushing for a move to Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham. Talks between the two clubs over a double deal involving Omar Marmoush are ongoing, and the North London side have made no secret of their intent.
There is a logic to the scramble. With Jeremy Doku reportedly injured and Savinho seemingly heading for the exit, the right-wing berth suddenly looks thin. Add in the sales of Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah and Rodri to Barcelona, plus Bernardo Silva's free transfer to Real Madrid, and the squad is beginning to resemble a jigsaw with several pieces missing.
It is a lot of movement in one window, even by modern standards.
Newcastle, meanwhile, continue to hover over Nico Gonzalez, which would only add to the sense of a squad in transition.
Should City fail to land Elias, alternatives are being monitored. Chelsea's Pedro Neto has long been admired at the Etihad — Enzo Maresca knows him well from his time at Stamford Bridge — but the Blues have slapped a £100 million valuation on the Portugal international.
Further down the list sit Wolves' Mateus Mane and Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye. RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande was also of interest, though that ship has sailed: a deal worth up to £120 million has taken him to Real Madrid.
The transfer market rarely stands still, and City's activity suggests they are not waiting for the dust to settle.