Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool fans must ‘keep an eye’ on a deal for Renato Sanches as his ‘feeling is that something new will happen’.
I wrote an article on Wednesday about how Sanches would fit at Anfield if a move materialised for him based purely on my desire to see him in Red.
And while Fabrizio Romano is speculating here, it is nice to hear that someone with insider knowledge of the European transfer game thinks it’s a move that could happen.
METZ, FRANCE – APRIL 09: John Boye of Metz (R) battles for the ball with Renato Sanches of Lille (L) during the Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and Lille OSC at Stade Saint-Symphorien on April 9, 2021 in Metz, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)
Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, the Italian said: “Liverpool are working to sell players.
“Their priority is to sell players like [Xherdan] Shaqiri, [Divock] Origi and more. Let’s see what happens with other players.
“Once they sell some players, my feeling is something new will happen. Maybe a new striker in an attacking position, also a midfielder.
“Keep an eye on Renato Sanches because he is a player Liverpool always appreciated.
LILLE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 25: Lille’s Renato Sanches during the Ligue 1 match between Lille OSC and RC Strasbourg at Stade Pierre Mauroy on September 25, 2019 in Lille, France. (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)
“The situation is still open for Sanches if a club will jump. If there is a bid around €40m, Lille will be prepared to sell.
“Renato is still an option for Liverpool if and when they decide to enter the market for a midfielder.”
Signing the Lille midfielder for just €40m would be a decent deal but only if he could avoid injury.
Given the battles that Naby Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain have had with injuries, Liverpool really cannot afford to have another injury-prone central midfielder on their books.
Can you imagine Jurgen Klopp needing to navigate a month or more without all three midfielders?
Given their respective records, it’s not unrealistic to assume they might get injured at the same time.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE – OCTOBER 04: Renato Sanches of Lille (L) plays against Mehdi Chahiri of Racing Strasbourg (R) during the Ligue 1 match between RC Strasbourg and Lille OSC at Stade de la Meinau on October 4, 2020 in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
As Keita seems to be overcoming his injury nightmare of the last few years, perhaps Liverpool can help the Portuguese midfielder do the same as he’s had nightmarish luck with niggling injuries himself.
Injuries aside – Sanches has it all. He’s a great passer, he’s quick, he’s brave in the tackle, he’s press-resistant, he’s developed tactically and the player that wasn’t ready for the Premier League with Swansea City has matured massively with Lille.
Winning Ligue 1 with the French side was a watershed moment for Renato Sanches.
