Rudy Galetti reports that Liverpool are interested in both Otavio and Renato Sanches as Georginio Wijnaldum’s heir.
It’s July and so the transfer window is really underway as free agents hit the market and club contracts expire with Liverpool are expected to be in the thick of things.
A £36million [€42m) deal to sign Ibrahima Konate has already been completed and he officially became a Liverpool player on Thursday as his RB Leipzig contract expired while his Anfield terms came into effect.
Konate is Liverpool’s first signing of the summer and arguably the most important. (Photo by Tw/AnfieldWatch)
The Frenchman is a hugely exciting player and is one of the few centre-backs I have been genuinely looking forward to seeing play but he’s not all that Jurgen Klopp needs.
The German manager will need to sign a new attacker to have compete with Roberto Firmino for game time and to replace Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi who are expected to leave the club this summer.
The Reds lacked cutting edge at times and the likes of Donyell Malen could help them stay sharp all season long.
Liverpool in the market for a new midfielder
A centre-midfielder is also a priority after Georginio Wijnaldum turned down multiple contract offers to stay at Liverpool and is now officially a PSG player.
Official and contract signed until June 2024. Georginio Wijnaldum is a new Paris Saint-Germain player after spending last 5 years at Liverpool.
Rudy Galetti, who sensationally claimed last week that Liverpool have made a ‘monster offer’ to Mbappe, now claims that ‘Otavio and Renato Sanches are at the top of their list.’
It’s questionable whether or not Galetti is reliable for Liverpool news but he may also be rehashing reports from other outlets after both Otavio and Sanches were linked with the Reds.
As we covered on Wednesday, a bid was reportedly made by Liverpool for Otavio but that’s questionable while Sanches has been mentioned as a player that is suitable for Jurgen Klopp’s style of play.
Liverpool reached an agreement with Lille in January to sign the Portuguese, according to Tutto Mercato Web, but a move never materialised although now could be his chance to move to Anfield.
Sanches would be the better of the two
He was simply outstanding at the EUROs and while Portugal crashed out of the tournament against Belgium, he went toe to toe with Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante in the final game of the group stages.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – JUNE 23: Renato Sanches of Portugal is challenged by N’Golo Kante of France during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group F match between Portugal and France at Puskas Arena on June 23, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
His ball retention and ability to drive through a clustered engine room would be amazing to have while his energy levels are also great.
Sanches would be as close to an affordable alternative to Gini Wijnaldum as you will find this summer, with his market value reportedly just £27m [€31.3m].
Signing the 23-year-old and someone like Donyell Malen would be really outstanding business.
