Manchester City are exploring a move for Palmeiras winger Allan as a possible replacement for Savinho, who is edging closer to a big-money switch to Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports in France.
With just days remaining before the new Premier League season and two weeks left in the summer transfer window, head coach Enzo Maresca is overseeing a significant reshaping of his squad at the Etihad Stadium.
Viana leads renewed push into Brazilian market
According to Footmercato journalist Santi Aouna, City are turning their attention to Brazil as Savinho’s departure to Tottenham draws nearer.
The report suggests sporting director Hugo Viana and the club hierarchy have identified Allan, a 22-year-old left-footed right winger at Palmeiras, as a candidate to fill the void.
The Brazilian is under contract at the São Paulo club until December 2029, and no fee has yet been reported for a deal that would need to convince Palmeiras to part with one of their prized attacking assets.
City’s relationship with Palmeiras has proven productive in recent years. The Brazilian club previously sold striker Gabriel Jesus to City in 2016, while central defender Vitor Reis made the same move in a substantial deal more recently. This gives Viana’s recruitment team an established pipeline of trust between the two clubs to work with should they pursue Allan seriously.
A summer of upheaval under Maresca
The potential move for Allan comes amid wholesale change at City this summer, Maresca’s first since replacing Pep Guardiola as manager.
The Italian has already seen senior figures depart, including Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid and Rodri to Barcelona, alongside Tijjani Reijnders’ switch to Al Qadsiah.
Reflecting on his appointment in June, Maresca said he was relishing the return to a club he knows well.
“This will be my third spell here. I know this Club, I know the demands and I know the expectations,” he said, adding that the quality of the people at the club is what makes it special to him.
Midfield reinforcement has been the clearest priority so far, with Elliot Anderson arriving from Nottingham Forest in a club-record £116m deal as Maresca’s first signing.
City are also said to be monitoring Roma’s Manu Kone, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and, most prominently, Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi as competition for places in the middle of the park continues to be assessed.
Attention is now shifting to the flanks, however, with Savinho closing in on a move to fellow Premier League side Tottenham. City have been notably restrained in the winger market this summer compared with the sums being spent elsewhere in Europe.
Links to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who has since joined Real Madrid, have cooled, largely over salary demands.
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto has also been discussed given his existing relationship with Maresca from Stamford Bridge, though City are understood to be unwilling to meet the Blues’ reported £100m valuation of the Portugal international.
Younger options have also been considered, with the club said to have run the eye over Wolverhampton Wanderers teenager Mateus Mane at one stage of the summer.
Whether Allan emerges as City’s chosen route to replace Savinho remains to be seen, and any deal would likely require lengthy negotiation given the player’s long contract in Brazil.
But with the transfer window edging towards its close and a Premier League opener fast approaching, Maresca and Viana appear to be exploring every avenue to ensure City are not left short in wide areas once Savinho’s move to north London is confirmed.
