City’s winger hunt stalls as Al Ahli clinches £37.9m Trincão deal

Manchester City have identified a pressing need for a creative wide attacker, a priority highlighted by director of football Hugo Viana and manager Enzo Maresca, as they target 26‑year‑old Portuguese winger Francisco Trincão, whose recent £37.9 million move to Saudi side Al Ahli threatens to stall the club’s winger hunt.

Sporting Lisbon have agreed a £37.9 million package with Al Ahli for Trincão, but the Portuguese winger has not yet given the green light; reports say interest from Manchester City and Tottenham is the specific factor causing his hesitation over a move to Saudi Arabia.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas’ stance is clear: he will not offer Premier League clubs a better deal than the one already accepted from Al Ahli, meaning any English suitor must match the Saudi package rather than undercut it.

Viana notes that Trincão’s desire to play in the English Premier League is keeping the Saudi move on hold, aligning with City’s need for a dribbler who can create chances from the flank.

Trincão has been one of the most consistent wide attackers in the Primeira Liga this season, producing the best football of his career at Sporting CP and attracting attention from clubs across Europe’s top divisions as his contract situation draws scrutiny.

Al Ahli’s offer includes a fixed fee and bonuses that total £37.9 million, plus a four‑year contract worth £8.4 million net per season for the player, underscoring the financial lure of the Saudi Pro League.

For City, matching the Al Ahli package would satisfy Viana’s terms and give the player a clear incentive to choose the Etihad Stadium over Saudi Arabia, a scenario Viana believes could close the deal quickly.

However, Varandas’ stance that no better deal will be offered creates a hard ceiling; City must meet the £37.9 million figure, and Trincão’s patience for a Premier League offer is understood to be finite, raising the risk of him eventually accepting the Saudi contract.

The next 48 to 72 hours are crucial, as City must formalise its interest before Trincão’s patience runs out, otherwise the Premier League window could close permanently on a player who has been holding out specifically for Manchester City.