Best winger since Son: Spurs in talks to sign £60m Savinho alternative

Tottenham Hotspur have been treated to some knockout forwards over the years, the likes of Gareth Bale and Harry Kane and Heung-min Son springing to mind.

But whether the Londoners boast any forwards with superstar quality right now is another question. Over the past year, Spurs have fallen by the wayside and narrowly avoided slipping into oncoming traffic, surviving a shock relegation battle with a win over Everton on the final game of the campaign.

One thing’s for sure: Roberto De Zerbi has so far proved an inspired appointment for the Lilywhites, replacing Igor Tudor during the

March international break and reinvigorating the outfit. Tottenham have bettered Aston Villa and Liverpool for points since then.

If Spurs don’t nail their summer spending, though, recent improvements may prove a flash in the pan. If Tottenham want to put their back-to-back 17th-place Premier League finishes behind them, they need to sign some able attackers.

Spurs in talks for Savinho alternative

Replacing the likes of Kane and Son has not been easy, but Tottenham have still made poor use of the cards handed to them. Now, they need to make changes, and it looks like Manchester City’s Savinho has been marked as the marquee winger who could change the script.

Less than a year ago, he extended his contract at the Etihad. But chances have been few for the 22-year-old, and negotiations are now advancing between the two clubs, who anticipate a deal will be done.

Savinho isn’t the only Premier League forward on ENIC Group’s radar, though. He only started seven league games for Pep Guardiola’s team this year, and he has two goals across two top-flight terms in England.

They cannot get this wrong, and while the £60m-rated Savinho is a big talent, would he make a significant difference at this stage of his career?

Instead, Tottenham could sign a sharper offensive threat in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo. According to TEAMtalk, the London club are in talks with representatives over a move for the Netherlands international, though exactly how concrete their interest is has not yet been determined.

Gakpo, 26, has been a mainstay for Liverpool over the past several years, but after Arne Slot’s dismissal at the start of the month, his place in the Anfield first team has been jeopardised.

Still, he’s valued at £60m, a similar ballpark to Savinho, and his experience in the Premier League and internationally could see him make bigger waves down N17 next season.

Why Gakpo can be Spurs’ best winger since Son

Gakpo hasn’t always been the flavour of the month at Liverpool, but he is accomplished within the Premier League, a champion who is positionally dynamic and invariably a threat in front of goal. Former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders once praised his “special skill set“, definitely bringing something specific to the table.

Given that he is typically found on the left wing, though, he can surely cement himself as Tottenham’s finest since Son, who left the club one year ago after securing a Europa League title. A modern legend, the 33-year-old spent a decade in London, and the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel have thus far struggled to replace him.

Gakpo is not Son. He will never match the South Korean legned’s skill and dynamism and consistency. Son is one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history.

But that’s not to say that the Dutchman can’t make a real difference for De Zerbi’s outfit. He scored 18 goals and supplied seven assists across all competitions in 2024/25, Liverpool’s Premier League-winning season, and could bring something of Son’s blend of direct and supporting quality, if not his athleticism and world-class technicality.

Gakpo is not the fastest, and he has never been the most relentless dribbler, but he is a robust and physical forward, someone who can make a real difference, creating chances and scoring goals.

Whether he would emulate prime Son is another question, and one that Gakpo may not answer, but he can still outperform his competition and provide the edge that the Londoners have been lacking over the past year.

In truth, Gakpo might not have the superstar quality to leave a legacy on a level with Son’s in north London, but there’s no denying that this is one of the most talented forwards in the Premier League, and he could make a real difference over the next several years for Tottenham.