RTI Esporte reports the three-pronged engagement — with Savinho's representatives, the City Football Group and Manchester City directly — suggests Spurs are moving with intent rather than merely monitoring.
ESPN has separately confirmed that talks are progressing over a deal in the region of £60 million.
Tottenham had attempted to sign Savinho last summer but Manchester City, then still under Pep Guardiola, refused to sanction a departure and handed the Brazilian a new contract through to 2031 in October. The landscape has changed. With Guardiola gone and Enzo Maresca preparing to take charge of a significant squad rebuild, City are now resigned to selling Savinho, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The 22-year-old made 36 appearances for City last season across all competitions but managed just 1,502 minutes, scoring four goals. The lack of regular football has opened the door to his exit, and the appeal of working under Roberto De Zerbi — whose attacking system would give Savinho a more prominent starting role than he has enjoyed at the Etihad Stadium — is a factor in the player's thinking.
Arsenal explored the possibility of signing Savinho before Tottenham moved into pole position, according to RTI Esporte. The Gunners investigated a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer — an approach City rejected immediately. Their position throughout has been that if Savinho leaves, the deal must be permanent. That stance is consistent with reports from multiple Brazilian outlets across recent weeks.
City regard Savinho as an important long-term asset even while accepting the possibility of a sale, and will seek a fee that reflects a significant profit on the £30.8 million they paid Troyes in 2024. No formal bid has yet been submitted by Spurs, but the groundwork laid through multiple levels of negotiation suggests a deal is building toward a conclusion.