Tottenham’s Attacking Plan: Savinho Leads Over Pedro Neto

Tottenham’s attacking plan for the final stretch of the window is taking shape – and Pedro Neto is very much on the list, just not at the top of it.

With midfield and defence largely boxed off early in the summer, Roberto De Zerbi has turned the spotlight on his forward line. He wants it sharper, quicker, more unpredictable. Two or three fresh faces was the brief. One of them, it seems, is already effectively spoken for.

Savinho the headline act

Spurs are poised to commit a total of £85million to land Manchester City winger Savinho, a player who has been tracked for months and internally viewed as the primary wide addition.

Speaking to Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke laid out how Tottenham’s boardroom whiteboard currently looks.

“Pedro Neto is on Tottenham’s list, maybe not at the top of it right now,” he said.

“Savinho is their number one target for that wide attacking position, he is the priority and they’re working hard to reach an agreement with Man City over that one.

“Cody Gakpo is high on that list as well, and both of those players are probably ahead of Pedro Neto in the pecking order for Spurs.

“Savinho is the one they’re really pushing to get done, and they’re keen on Gakpo too, so that’s where they stand at the moment.”

So the hierarchy is clear: Savinho first, Cody Gakpo next, Neto a more distant option.

Chelsea dig in over Neto

Any late move for Neto would be expensive. Very expensive.

TEAMtalk understands Chelsea will demand around £100million to even consider parting with the Portugal international. His camp are open to the idea of a transfer, but the club want a fee that reflects both his talent and his importance to the project.

Xabi Alonso is under no pressure to cash in. On the contrary, he is happy to keep Neto in his squad and sees him as a key weapon for the season ahead.

Inside Stamford Bridge there is a clear awareness of the market around the winger. Tottenham like him. Manchester City have him on their radar. Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have already tried to test Chelsea’s resolve, lodging an offer in the region of £60million.

That bid was rejected without hesitation, nowhere near the figure Chelsea believe matches his value.

Spurs’ numbers problem

For Tottenham, the equation is brutal. An £85million outlay on Savinho for that wide role makes another nine-figure swing on a player who operates in broadly the same area of the pitch look highly unlikely.

They admire Neto. They know his ceiling. But with Savinho earmarked as the flagship wide signing and Gakpo also high in their thoughts, Spurs’ interest in the Chelsea man currently runs straight into a £100million brick wall.

Unless something dramatic shifts in price or priorities, Neto looks destined to stay where he is – while Tottenham throw their weight behind closing Savinho and deciding whether Gakpo is worth the next big push.