Tottenham 'working on' deal which could see Chelsea lose 'one of their best players'

Tottenham Hotspur are set to play a key role in Chelsea losing a star player as Manchester City put new transfer plans in place.

Spurs have been long-term admirers of Savinho, and are widely expected to pull off his signing this summer, opening the door for Man City to land Chelsea's Pedro Neto.

Enzo Maresca is already eyeing up replacements for the Brazil winger, and Neto has emerged as his top target as he aims for a reunion after their time together at Stamford Bridge.

Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that any deal for Neto will hinge on Spurs' ongoing pursuit of Savinho, which is set to trigger a "domino effect".

That means Roberto De Zerbi's side are likely to inadvertently weaken their rivals by triggering a deal which will see one of Xabi Alonso's best players tempted away.

While there is still a lot of water to pass under the bridge before it becomes a reality, both Spurs and Man City are keen to do a deal, with the players also believed to be interested.

What is the latest on Tottenham's move for Savinho?

Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson previously told Football Insider that it is "just a mater of time" until Savinho completes his move to Tottenham this summer.

Despite missing out last year, Spurs have remained very keen on signing the winger, and have been in negotiations over his signing since the transfer window opens.

With Man City now expecting the player to move on, and plans in place for his eventual departure, there is a growing expectation the deal will be finalised soon.

"This is certainly going to be one to watch, because there's a domino effect involved," Brown told Football Insider.

"I can definitely see Man City making a move to sign Pedro Neto, but it seems it will only happen if they can sell the Brazilian Savinho, and that's where Tottenham come in.

"They've been working on that deal for a long time, he's somebody they want to bring in, Man City seem to be open to the deal, and the player seems to be keen as well.

"So it seems likely that they will complete that move, and then it opens the door for Man City to go out and bring in another winger.

"Neto, in my opinion, has been one of Chelsea's best players over the last couple of years, so in terms of Man City trying to find a new winger, they won't need to look far.

"There are a lot of moving parts, but once that first deal is completed, I expect Man City will be stepping up their efforts to bring him in."

Could Man City be poised to swoop for Pedro Neto?

Neto has recently emerged as a leading target for Man City, with Maresca playing a crucial role in their pursuit as he eyes a reunion with the player he worked with at Chelsea.

The new Man City boss has been eyeing a number of Chelsea stars as he aims to poach players from his former club, with a move for the winger now increasingly likely.

Brown told Football Insider on 4 August that Man City are plotting a move to sign Neto and believe a "big" offer could be accepted, with Chelsea not ruling out his departure.

The 26-year-old has been a key player for the Blues since his arrival from Wolves in 2024, but they could be open to his sale at the right price.

The winger is expected to be part of Alonso's plans for the new season, but with a significant overhaul of his squad already underway, no exits have been ruled out.