LIVERPOOL look set to win the transfer race to sign Renato Sanches, according to reports.
The midfielder, 23, is expected to leave Lille this summer after helping them win the Ligue 1 title last season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the French side are demanding £40million for their Portuguese star.
Liverpool are keen to bring in an extra midfielder after the departure of Gini Wijnaldum on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain while Youri Tielemans looks set to stay at FA Cup winners Leicester.
But the Reds may try and lower the asking price to get a cheaper deal for the energetic midfield man.
Barcelona were also thought to be interested in Sanches, after missing out on Wijnaldum.
But their financial disarray means they are unable to register any new signings.
And that may well give Liverpool a free run to bring Sanches back to the Premier League.
After breaking through with Benfica, he won the league and cup double, Euro 2016 and Golden Boy award in a stunning 2016.
But after joining Bayern Munich, his career spiralled downwards with a flop loan spell at Swansea in 2017-18.
However, the star got it back on track when he transferred from Bayern to Lille two years ago and has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
Selling Sanches would mean losing two of their key title-winning central midfielders after Boubakary Soumare moved to Leicester.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has only brought in one new face in the summer window so far.
Ibrahima Konate signed from RB Leipzig in a £36m transfer to bolster the defence.
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But with the club also linked with £38m-rated Belgian teenage winger Jeremy Doku, Klopp hinted there could be more arrivals before the August 31 deadline day.
Speaking after Sunday’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Athletic Bilbao, the German said: “I am very happy with the squad, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t look at the market.
“We have a big squad and there might be something happening until the end of the transfer window, but I cannot say anything about that at the moment.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
