Arsenal are interested in Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches with reports suggesting they could make an offer to Lille in January.
According to Le10Sport, Arsenal have entered the chase for Renato Sanches, as emerging reports suggest an imminent offer could be submitted to Lille for the midfielder in the January window.
Renato Sanches has made his presence count in world football after resurrecting his career that looked to be on a downward spiral not very long ago. After a surprise and rather ill-timed move to Bayern Munich on the back of an impressive Euro 2016, the Portuguese found success and consistency hard to come by.
A bad loan move to Swansea City in the Premier League shot his confidence down as he found it hard to get into Fernando Santos’ Portugal side. However, he decided to join LOSC Lille in France in 2019 and has turned things around since. Last season, the 24-year-old helped them win the Ligue 1 title after a tremendous shift in midfield.
His performances put him back on the radar of some top clubs. Liverpool and Barcelona are still reportedly interested in his services, although they face strong competition from elsewhere.
A summer move might have transpired only for Lille’s huge asking price putting suitors off the chase. With the Portuguese international’s contract expiring in 2023, the Ligue 1 side might entertain reasonable offers with several sides showing an interest in recent weeks. Premier League side Wolves were showing an interest, while reports have emerged about AC Milan already tabling an offer.
As things stand, Milan are the only club to have made a concrete bid, although they now have to face intense competition from Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is eagerly searching for a quality central midfielder and has stumbled upon the Portuguese once again.
The Gunners are set to lose Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny during January’s AFCON. The competition aside, Arteta genuinely wants someone long-term as the futures of the Egyptian and Ainsley Maitland-Niles remain a big doubt in the long term.
Arsenal could make an offer for Sanches as the January window approaches. They showed their financial muscle during the summer window and could again open their chequebook for a reliable signing. There are other midfield targets in Arteta’s mind, with RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams another one of the alternative options.
It remains to be seen if Sanches is interested in moving to north London as he seems destined to leave Lille whenever the next opportunity arrives. Arsenal are a good side on the rise, although if Liverpool or Barcelona come into the equation, Arteta might find it hard to lure the Portuguese international to the Emirates.
