Why Manchester City will be allowed to sign Savio despite blocked Manchester United deal for Jean-Clair Todibo

A new report has detailed exactly why Manchester City will be allowed to sign Savio from a City Group partner club, while rivals United see a similar deal blocked.

Details first emerged earlier this year of the Premier League champions’ pursuit of arguably the best talent currently playing elsewhere in the City Football Group, with the Brazilian winger leading his loan club into history.

In an exemplary La Liga campaign under head coach Michel, striker Savio was part of a very talented Girona side that managed to qualify for UEFA Champions League football for the first time in the club’s history.

With Savio on loan at Catalan club ESTAC Troyes in France, Manchester City felt it necessary to ensure the player’s future would be more closely controlled by those at the Etihad Stadium, investing around €40m in the forward.

But the transfer itself has come under scrutiny in recent days from Manchester United supporters, who have seen their club blocked by UEFA from signing Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo under multi-club ownership rules, which means the two clubs cannot trade.

It is also pointed out that the deal for the Brazil international is a done deal between Troyes and Manchester City, as opposed to Girona, who are to be placed on a blind trust in the UEFA Champions League, and the Premier League champions.

Crucially, however, Ducker points out that the main point is the timing of the new MCO guidelines.

It remains to be seen whether Manchester City will look to use Savio in their first-team squad for the upcoming campaign, although the player is likely to remain on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Despite signing Savio from Troyes, City officials have remained interested in a number of wide talents this summer, namely Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise – who looks more likely to join Chelsea this summer at present.

Manchester City’s main focus this summer remains signing a new central midfielder and possibly a different profile given the ongoing doubts over the futures of Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.