Neto lined up as Savinho's City exit edges closer
The noise around Savinho's future is getting harder to ignore. With the Brazilian's standing at the Etihad having dipped over the past year, City are preparing for life without him — and Pedro Neto is the name at the top of their list.
Sources indicate that City are increasingly likely to move for the Chelsea winger if Savinho departs before the 3 September deadline. The Blues have been anticipating the wideman's exit for some time, and a formal approach for Neto is expected once that transfer progresses.
There is a sense of inevitability about Savinho's departure. Former City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider at the end of June that he wouldn't be surprised if his former club have "already done" a deal behind the scenes. He believes it is in City's interests to cash in for a fee in the region of £60m, and described the exit as effectively all-but-done.
Tottenham have pursued the ex-Girona man continually over the last 12 months, though Borson's comments suggest the groundwork may already be laid elsewhere. City, he says, need to balance their SCR standing and wage bill — a delicate operation that makes a sale of this size almost inevitable.
Savinho's trajectory at the Etihad has been a strange one. He impressed with eight assists in the Premier League in 2024-25, but struggled for both form and game time last term. That decline has opened the door for a parting of ways.
Neto price tag
Should City move for Neto, they know exactly what it will cost. Chelsea are holding out for £70m for the Portuguese international. City, for their part, view that as decent value in today's market.
Neto ticks a box that matters to City: he is proven in the Premier League, having ended last season with five goals and six assists to his name in the league. At 26, he fits the profile of a player who can contribute immediately rather than one who needs time to adapt.
There is also the small matter of familiarity. Enzo Maresca has already worked with Neto previously, and City are keen to help the new boss mould the squad in his image following Pep Guardiola's exit. A player who knows the manager's methods and the demands of English football is an appealing proposition.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, now a regular source of transfer insight, told Football Insider earlier this week that Neto's potential move to the Etihad is "one to watch" in the final month of the window. He has emphasised that a deal could happen in the coming weeks.
Brown believes Neto would provide an "upgrade" on some of City's current options in the wide areas — a pointed assessment of the squad's recent struggles in those positions. He also made it clear that Chelsea are "not ruling out selling anyone" this summer, even if Neto is not one of their top candidates for an exit.
The West Londoners are reluctant to lose the former Wolves man, but they would entertain a sale if the money was right. They also know they will need funds for further additions to Xabi Alonso's squad. Football's food chain, as ever, requires movement at every level.
At £70m, Neto would not be a cheap acquisition. But for a club in transition, with a new manager and a squad needing refresh, it may be a price worth paying. City are also expecting exits of their own before the deadline, so the financial picture is far from static.
Whether Savinho's departure is confirmed in the coming days or dragged out to the wire, the direction of travel is clear. Neto is the man City want, and the pieces are falling into place.