City Close In on Allan as Savinho Exit Looms
Manchester City are on the verge of adding another winger to their ranks, with a verbal agreement in place for Palmeiras' Allan. The deal, reported by Fabrizio Romano, will see City pay €40 million (£34.2 million) plus add-ons, and the necessary paperwork is already being exchanged between the clubs.
The move comes at a busy time for the Blues, marking their second signing of the week after completing a deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. It also fills a specific need: with Savinho heading to Tottenham, City are short of options on the right flank.
Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira has offered a compelling explanation for why City were so keen. Speaking after his side's win over Vasco da Gama, he described Allan as a complete winger, praising his work rate and his ability to do what most wide players cannot.
“These teams want players like Allan because he does what 90% of the wingers here can’t do: attack and defend along the flank for 90 minutes.”
Ferreira's point goes deeper than raw effort. He noted that European clubs don't simply buy players who attack, and Allan's versatility makes him a rare commodity.
“The Europeans don’t only buy players who attack. So when one appears who can defend along the flank all the time, play at right-back, play outside in a back three and come inside to combine, everyone wants players like that.”
For a side that has built its success on tactical flexibility, a winger who can tuck in as a full-back or slot into a back three is a useful piece. Allan may not be the flashiest name, but he appears to be exactly the type of player Maresca's system demands.
Whether he can adapt to the Premier League's pace remains to be seen, but the early signs are encouraging.