VILLA LINKED WITH RECORD SAVIO MOVE
Vicente del Bosque has signalled that Savio will not be a regular in his starting line-up at the Santiago Bernabeu next season and, like Steve McManaman, there is the prospect that he may have to move on to play first team football.
John Gregory is reportedly willing to pay around £7.5 million for the Brazilian ace, a fee that would break the current record of £7 million, which the Midlanders paid Liverpool for Stan Collymore.
However, Corinthians have money to spend after selling Vampeta to Inter and they are willing to try and tempt the talented star to head back to South America.
The 26-year-old from Sao Torquato shot to prominence with his form as an out-and-out attacker with Flamengo, but he has been converted to a wide man by Real.
If Villa were to move for Savio Bortolini Pimentel, to use his full name, then the likelihood is that Gregory would deploy him in a more advanced role, as it appears as though Gregory has a surfeit of similar-styled forwards at his disposal, such as David Ginola, Lee Hendrie and Paul Merson.
A return to his homeland may appeal to the player, and his wife and children, but our continental sources are claiming that Villa will compete for his signature, with Gregory continuing to try to raise the profile of his squad.
