Tottenham have held talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinho, but their history of Brazilians at the club isn’t great.

The 21-year-old is believed to be open to making the switch to north London after just one season in Manchester.

5

However, City aren’t interested in selling and would demand north of £50million.

Spurs are in the market for another attacking option after James Maddison suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Whilst Savinho rarely plays in attacking midfield and features more as a right-winger, he will provide much-needed depth for the squad.

If Spurs did complete a deal, Tottenham fans would be wishing Savinho would be more Lucas Moura than Gilberto da Silva Melo.

The latter infamously failed to make an impression in north London during his brief spell at White Hart Lane in the 2008-09 season.

Gilberto arrived with good pedigree, having been included in Brazil’s 2006 World Cup squad and even scoring in their win over Japan.

In January 2008, Spurs sanctioned a £1.9m deal for the-then 31-year-old with six months left on his contract with Hertha Berlin.

Gilberto made history on his debut by becoming Tottenham’s first Brazilian to appear for the senior side.

Unfortunately for the left-back, who could also play in midfield, his nightmare first outing meant he soon made different headlines.

He was at fault for Jefferson Farfan’s winner in their UEFA Cup defeat to PSV Eindhoven, and was also booked and hooked at half-time.

5

What has Gilberto’s record at Spurs?

In three of his first six starts for the Lilywhites, manager Ramos, and his successor, Harry Redknapp, hooked him at half-time.

He ultimately made just ten appearances for Spurs, scoring one goal, before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in 2009.

The consensus about his time at the club was no better summarised than a headline that read, “Brazil finally produce rubbish footballer.”

Gilberto himself at least raised a smile when confronted with said headline, during an interview in which he apologised to Spurs fans.

“It’s true, I had a nightmare at Spurs. But I’d done well in Germany. I played for my country, and I’d won stuff in Brazil,” Gilberto told ESPN.

5

“Tottenham came in, and I saw it as a chance to have a proper crack at some silverware.

“I remember my debut against PSV. I tried to dribble past Jefferson Farfan. He nicked the ball from me and scored.

“Even though I was a Brazil international, I found it tough to recover, and I felt it was my fault we were losing 1-0.

“I picked up a calf injury and was subbed at half-time.

“We went out of the competition after the second leg, and I felt personally responsible.

5

“From that point onwards, everything went downhill. I gave my all during training and hoped for a change in my situation. I enjoyed living in London, but my self-assurance was completely shaken.

“Then, Juande Ramos was fired. Harry Redknapp took over, and I found myself placed in the B-team at the age of 32. It was humiliating to be on the field with players under 20 in empty arenas. Those were challenging days.”

“I want to say sorry with all my heart to the Tottenham fans. I’m gutted that it didn’t work,” Gilberto added.

“I would have loved to have stayed, but I got branded very quickly.

“There were some great people at the club, but it was a bad time for me personally.”

5

In a talkSPORT poll in 2017, Spurs supporters voted him the club’s worst winter signing ever.

“In a way, it’s nice to be remembered, and I also kind of half-agree with what they said,” he joked.

“But footballers have to get used to this sort of thing. I’ve talked about it on Instagram because I wanted to show how hard it can be.”