Savio upgrade: Man City may regret selling 'the best winger in the world'

Manchester City made a few impressive signings during the winter transfer window which could help the club return to their best during the 2025/26 campaign.

Pep Guardiola spent lavish sums of money on the likes of Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez in a bid to add some freshness to a team that was stagnating.

With the club trailing in the Premier League and being knocked out of the Champions League, the FA Cup is the only realistic chance of silverware this term for City.

These four signings will form the basis of a new team heading into next season, one that the Spaniard will be hoping can return to their very best and challenge for the league title.

Last summer, Guardiola failed to improve his side, despite claiming an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row, signing only Savinho and İlkay Gündoğan.

Gundogan had spent just a single season with Barcelona, failing to win a single trophy during his stint with the Catalan club.

He has failed to replicate the stunning form he showed during his first spell with City, managing only two goals all season for the club.

Savinho, on the other hand, has been a breath of fresh air since arriving from Troyes last summer, adding something different to the City attack, looking like one of their brightest talents for quite some time.

Savinho’s season in numbers for Man City

The Brazilian winger enjoyed an excellent campaign in LaLiga last season for Girona. Not only did he score 11 times for the Spanish club, but the youngster registered ten assists as he played a key part in them securing a place in the Champions League this season.

The winger was only on loan, however, and when City made a bid of just under £30m last summer, he was soon on his way to the Etihad.

Not one to be overawed by performing for one of the best teams in Europe, the 20-year-old has settled in extremely well at the club, scoring twice and grabbing nine assists in all competitions.

In the Premier League, Savinho has even created ten big chances, one fewer than Kevin De Bruyne, which ranks him second in this category among Guardiola’s squad.

He also averages 1.6 key passes and succeeds with two dribbles per game – a success rate of 57% – which indicates how impressive he has been in the final third for the Etihad side.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the South American starlet currently ranks in the top 3% for progressive carries (6.47), in the top 6% for successful take-ons (3.03) and in the top 9% for touches in the opposition penalty area (7.06) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

As well as being a direct threat in front of goal, as evidenced by his goal contributions, Savinho is able to take the ball past defenders with ease and get into dangerous positions for City, which gives him a much better opportunity of creating a chance or getting on the scoresheet.

If he carries on like this, Guardiola may have unearthed his next big thing at the Etihad, that’s for sure.

A few years ago, however, it appeared as though there was a player he signed from the Bundesliga who was ready to take that crown – Leroy Sané.

Why Sane would fit into the current Man City squad

After 57 appearances for German side, Schalke, he became one of Guardiola’s first signings ahead of the 2016/17 season and didn’t take long to prove his worth in Manchester with the manager describing him as “the best in the world playing out wide.”

Indeed, he scored nine and then 14 goals across his first two seasons with the Etihad outfit, winning the Premier League title during the latter campaign. Another league crown followed in 2018/19, but the following season was a disaster as he suffered a cruciate ligament injury, meaning the winger played just two games.

Bayern Munich came calling in the summer of 2020 and a bid of just under £55m was accepted by City, with Sane departing after four seasons with the club.

Since then, the Germany international has gone from strength to strength.

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Overall, 56 goals and 50 assists recorded in 207 games is quite simply a wonderful record. This works out as a goal contribution once every 1.9 matches for the Bavarian side.

During this time, he has won three Bundesliga titles, two German Super Cups and the Club World Cup during the 2020/21 campaign with former boss, Hansi Flick, suggesting that “when he brings his speed, he is simply one of the best there is in this position.”

High praise indeed and Sane has been shining this season under Vincent Kompany too as the club seek to reclaim the Bundesliga crown after surrendering it to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24.

Across 32 appearances for Bayern this term, Sane has eight goals and four assists, meaning he has one more goal contribution than Savinho.

In the German top flight, Sane has created seven big chances, averages 1.1 key passes and succeeds with 1.2 dribbles per game, showcasing his attacking abilities.

He has also performed wonderfully in the Champions League. When compared to his peers in the competition, the electric winger ranks in the top 3% for total shots (4.36), in the top 5% for touches in the opposition penalty area (7.96) and in the top 2% for progressive passes received (17.05) per 90 in the tournament this term.

Sane has only just turned 29, meaning he is arguably at the peak of his powers and Kompany will be hoping he can steer the club to either the Bundesliga or Champions League crown this season.

Savinho has been excellent, but City might rue selling the current Bayern star back in 2020, who is outscoring the Brazilian this season in all competitions.

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