Premier League giants Liverpool are set to rival three European giants in the race to sign LOSC Lille starlet Renato Sanches.
According to Calciomercato, Renato Sanches is set to spark quite a transfer battle as he is courted by no less than four European giants. AC Milan are heavily interested in his services, but the LOSC Lille midfielder is also a target for Premier League giants Liverpool, while Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are tracking his situation as well.
Liverpool were initially linked with a move for Sanches in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp considering him as an ideal replacement for the departed Gini Wijnaldum. But the move did not materialise as the midfielder ended up remaining at Lille, primarily due to a meniscal injury that put off multiple suitors.
However, the Portuguese international has since recovered and returned to the pitch in early October. He has already featured in six Ligue 1 matches, starting three of the last four. It has put his admirers on red alert, with Liverpool once again in contention to snap him up, most likely in the upcoming January transfer window.
It appears Jurgen Klopp is seriously pushing for the addition of a new midfielder after signing only one player in the summer. He is keen on finding a replacement for Wijnaldum, especially amid the uncertain future of Thiago Alcantara, who has been linked with a sensational return to Barcelona.
Sanches could fill Liverpool’s void in midfield, having established himself as a useful ball-carrier during his time at Lille. In addition to his technical prowess and dynamism, the Portuguese starlet is also quite versatile. He can indeed operate as a midfielder and a number ten, which could be very handy for Klopp as he looks to shuffle his troops more often in cup matches.
The 24-year-old has unfinished business in the Premier League as well, having failed to impress during a loan spell at Swansea City a few years ago. This time around, he could arrive in England as one of Portugal’s best midfielders with an opportunity to become a key asset for one of Europe’s biggest teams.
However, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool can fend off competition from the three other European powerhouses in the race to sign Sanches. The Reds can surely offer more financial and sporting prospects, which does make them the favourite. But they are not short of alternatives either, having also been linked with a move for another Ligue 1 midfield dynamo in the form of Aurelien Tchouameni.
