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Manchester City were willing to sell Savinho in the summer but are now moving to tie him down
Manchester City are set to hand Savinho an improved contract after Tottenham failed to sign him in summer.
Savinho was signed by City last year from fellow City Football Group club Troyes and played more than 3,000 minutes in his debut season. He started three of the four games in the Club World Cup, before being a surprise target for Spurs.
City did not immediately rebut interest in the player and were ready to move for Real Madrid's Rodrygo, but stuck to a high valuation that Tottenham did not come close to meeting. The Brazilian was injured at the beginning of the season but made his first start of the season at Huddersfield and scored in the second half.
"The only thing I'm concerned about today is that Savinho will be with us all the season, and hopefully for many, many years," Guardiola said in August. "Because at 21-years-old with the potential he has, playing a lot of minutes, he has to improve in final decisions, he's an extraordinary player.
"But at the end, as always, the desire of the player prevails above everything, and after that there has to be an agreement with the club. If you don't make an agreement, the player will be here."
City are now close to agreeing a new deal with the player, weeks after the end of the transfer window and just a year after he arrived at the Etihad. The 21-year-old can expect improved terms as he works to cement his place in Guardiola's side.
"When he clicks in the final third, the goal for example, we always talk about people up front but it is goals and assists, goals and assists," he said on Friday. "Savinho created a lot last season but in the final third he was too hectic in the right moment.
"The moment he does that, the moment he improves, he will be a top class player. He created a lot last game against Huddersfield.
"When I analyse what they do, the body language, it doesn’t matter if you play Championship or Premier League it’s how you do it. When Savinho makes these steps in a natural way he will be a top player."
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