What Savinho’s Manchester City transfer means for Phil Foden, Jack Grealish & Bernardo Silva

Savinho’s signing for Manchester City means the club’s transfer window is finally up and running.

While the departures of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, Lewis Fiorini, Liam Delap and Sergio Gomez had already been confirmed, Savinho’s arrival is the first signing that will have a major impact on Pep Guardiola’s first-team unit.

Despite reports earlier this year that the winger could leave on loan, the plan is for him to remain at the Etihad this season and fight for a spot in City’s line-up. That’s easier said than done given the competition for places in the wide areas.

Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb are Guardiola’s natural choices in that role, while Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva also regularly played out wide last season, but both can be deployed in midfield.

But it’s a formidable quintet for Savinho to contend with and the reality for any new Guardiola signing is that it takes time to bed into his first-team picture. But Savinho’s flexibility could prove to be one major advantage when it comes to forcing his way into Guardiola’s line up. 

“I can play on the left, on the right. I can play inside too, but my best position, the one I like playing the most, is playing on the right wing,” Savinho explained as part of his introductory interview. “But wherever the boss chooses to play me, I’ll help the team.”

The arrival of a left-footed winger who prefers to play from the right does raise questions about Bobb’s long-term development, although there’s no expectation that the Norwegian will leave this summer. 

Savinho’s signing also adds further scrutiny on Jack Grealish’s spot in the team, especially after an underwhelming 2023/24 campaign that saw him lose his spot in the England squad. A strong pre-season and start to the new term feels crucial now for the former Aston Villa star.

As for Foden and Silva, with four natural wingers now available for Guardiola, it seems likely the experienced City pair will play in midfield more often. Foden, in particular is slowly becoming the most reliable creative outlet. Savinho’s signing invariably means more minutes in the middle for the England international and therefore does raise questions about Kevin De Bruyne’s place in the side.

City’s no.17 openly courted interest from Saudi Arabia earlier this summer but is set to remain at Etihad for what is looking increasingly like a swansong campaign. De Bruyne ended last season by being replaced in the 56th minute of the FA Cup final as City trailed by two goals, with Foden pushed inside from a wide position. That may be a prelude of Guardiola’s modus operandi in 2024/25.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Savinho does leave City with three major transfer uncertainties as the new season looms ever closer. Firstly, is Ederson’s transfer saga finished now that Al-Nassr’s £25m bid was rejected? If so, that poses the question of what role Stefan Ortega will play this term after he penned a new deal last month.

Elsewhere, City must decide whether they plan to replace Gomez. The Spaniard played just 48 minutes in the Premier League last season and was very much a peripheral figure, but the plan all summer has been to replace any City outgoings, especially given Guardiola works with limited numbers in his first-team squad.

The response will be interesting - do City target a natural left-back (something Guardiola seems loathed to do), will they again to a an underage protegee, or just leave it altogether?

The final uncertainty centres around Rodri and whether City will decide to sign back-up for the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament. He has played 50+ games in each of the last two season and will begin the new campaign on the back of an exhausting summer.

Some form of cover is needed but whether City opt to make an addition in the market or train one of their current players to carry out that role is the big unknown at this stage.