• Man City are monitoring Sporting’s Trincão, with manager Enzo Maresca an admirer of his profile

• Hugo Viana knows Trincão well from their successful spell together at Sporting CP

• Man City will only move for Trincão if Savinho departs the Etihad Stadium this summer

Manchester City have emerged as one of the clubs monitoring Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincão as Hugo Viana continues to reshape Enzo Maresca’s squad, according to a new report.

Trincão appeared to be heading for Saudi Arabia in the coming days, with Al Ahli understood to be in the best position to sign the 26-year-old. Sporting are open to a deal worth around £42 million, a fee the Saudi side reportedly prepared to match while offering the winger a salary package that would significantly exceed his current earnings at the Estádio José Alvalade.

However, Trincão has decided to slow the process down following Portugal’s FIFA World Cup exit. He is taking time to assess his options and consider whether a move to Europe’s elite remains possible before committing to the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.

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That pause has opened a window for Premier League interest to grow more serious. Manchester City’s search for a new winger has been one of the more active parts of their summer rebuild, and Trincão’s ability to provide direct running, creativity, and a goal threat from wide positions aligns closely with the attributes Viana and Maresca have identified as priorities.

Viana’s familiarity with Trincão from his time at Sporting gives Manchester City a meaningful advantage. The director of football worked with the winger at close quarters and possesses an understanding of his character and playing style that few rival sporting directors can claim.

Report: Maresca an admirer as Savinho departure emerges as key condition

As reported by the Portuguese newspaper Record and relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are monitoring Trincão’s situation, with Maresca described as an admirer of the player.

However, the report includes a significant condition: Manchester City will only consider a move for Trincão if Savinho leaves the Etihad Stadium this summer. The Brazilian winger’s future remains unresolved as the window continues.

This condition introduces Tottenham as a factor, as they are the club most consistently linked with a move for Savinho. A deal for Savinho could potentially unlock City’s move for Trincão while removing him from Tottenham’s own transfer shortlist.

Record also notes the involvement of agent Jorge Mendes, raising the possibility that the public link to Manchester City and Spurs is part of a strategy to either increase the salary offer from Al Ahli or generate European competition to increase Sporting’s leverage.

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What does Trincão’s situation mean for Man City’s winger search?

The conditional nature of Manchester City’s interest is the key detail. This is not a straightforward pursuit, as it depends on outgoing business that is not yet near completion.

Should Savinho depart, Viana would be freed to pursue a replacement. Trincão’s profile, his existing relationship with the director of football, and his availability make him a natural candidate.

The £42 million valuation set by Sporting is lower than many of City’s primary recruitment targets this summer, suggesting that the financial cost would not be the main obstacle if the Savinho condition is met.

Whether Trincão eventually moves to Saudi Arabia or secures a move to the Premier League will likely depend as much on Manchester City’s transfer activity as it does on the player’s own decisions in the coming days.