Premier League champions Liverpool are closely following a former Golden Boy winner amid contract renewal frustrations with Georginio Wijnaldum.
Dutch midfielder Gini Wijnaldum only has little more than six months left on his contract. Although Liverpool have expressed their desire to extend the 30-year-old’s stay with the club, Wijnaldum is yet to accept any bids. It seems that Barcelona’s interest may be the biggest obstacle to the midfielder’s stay at Anfield.
As the January transfer market is about to open, the Reds are looking for a solution for the dutchman’s potential exit. According to Le10Sport, they have found Gini’s replacement in former Golden Boy Renato Sanches.
The 23-year-old midfielder raised havoc at Benfica five years ago, getting Bayern Munich to sign him for €35 million. However, the German side offered him a more defensive position in midfield, which didn’t suit Renato’s characteristics.
The player failed to live up to his full potential and ended up embarking on a loan to Welsh-side Swansea. After a few unsuccessful seasons, Lille decided to bet on Renato with a €20 million bid. The Portuguese international regained his confidence and has been performing at a high level for the Ligue 1 team.
However, Lille’s recent financial struggles have led the club’s management to consider selling Renato Sanches. The French press has reported debts between €130 and €200 million. Therefore, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool see this as an opportunity to secure one of football’s highest hopes of the last five years. It is noted that if the club sold the Sanches, they could receive financial compensation of around €70 million.
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