Pep Guardiola has made his Savinho feelings clear amid Man City transfer talks

Manchester City forward Savinho could leave the club this summer after Tottenham held talks with the Blues over a deal.

Savinho and Pep Guardiola

News that Savinho could join Tottenham has seen sparks fly among Manchester City fans. It isn't so much that he is seen as a player too good to go, but more that he is a young player with lots of potential and - more importantly - nobody saw it coming.

There has been lots of debate in recent weeks over which players the Blues might need to get rid of given they currently have too many non-homegrown players to register for their Champions League squad. Savinho never got a mention.

Not that one is much to do with the other, it should be said. City are not looking to sell the Brazilian after just one year at the Etihad, but - as with any player - will sell if Savinho wants to leave and they get a fair price (north of £50m in this case, which doesn't necessarily mean £51m).

If Savinho were to leave, it would be to the great disappointment of Pep Guardiola. City's manager gave him more than 3,000 minutes on the pitch last season - unheard of for a youngster in their first season under the manager.

At the Club World Cup, Savinho started three of City's four games and after his thumping goal in the 5-2 win over Juventus he earned gushing praise from Guardiola on his progress.

"He is a player with incredible potential," he said. "We cannot forget he's so young.

"He needs to make the final third more decisive in aspects like the goal he has done in the last game. He has to do it more. The last goal is more and more complicated and difficult to score than the previous ones - one against ones, the 'keeper, that maybe last season he missed.

"The moment he will make this step, which will come in a natural way because he has incredible individual quality, when it arrives for his commitment to say I want to do it, I want to be decisive, I want to score goals and make more assists, he will become an extraordinary player.

"He can play on both sides, right and left, he's so fast, he understands tactically the movements he has so to do so that's why he can play with us."

Guardiola clearly rates Savinho and believes that he can follow through on his potential to score more goals and assists. At the same time, it is well known that the manager does not want players in his squad who would rather be somewhere else.

If Savinho wants to leave and is able to find a club that can give City their asking price, a departure will be inevitable - and Guardiola will sadly accept it.

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