According to The Express, Lille midfielder Renato Sanches is a transfer target for Arsenal. The Portugal international, who was a vital part of Portugal’s midfield at this year’s Euros, is believed to be a target for the Gunners as they look to strengthen their squad after a poor season.
The article mentions that Sanches was a highly sought-after player during his teenage years. But things haven’t yet worked out for him at club level. After his impressive showings at SL Benfica, he has played at Bayern, Swansea, and now Lille. And here we look at why Arteta should take the call to bring him to the Emirates.
Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos played an important role in Arsenal’s midfield this past season. But the duo was only on loan from Real Madrid. The Londoners are also very close to losing Granit Xhaka.
Football.london report that the Swiss midfielder is likely to leave the Gunners in the summer and a move to Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma is ‘on the cards’. Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are also not certain to be at the club next season, with The Express stating there are ‘doubts’ over their future.
The two of them are anyway not the first name on the team-sheet for Arsenal but the Gunners could feel the heat if so many midfielders leave the club at once. Moreover, Lucas Torreira looks like he could finally get his permanent exit from the club. The Metro states that Lazio are looking to sign the Uruguayan midfielder.
Emile Smith Rowe is a subject of interest from Aston Villa while Mohamed Elneny’s contract enters its final year. This is an alarming situation and Arsenal could need two or three midfielders before the start of next season. And this is why the emerging links with Sanches would come as hope for their fans.
Sanches is only 23 years old and still has a long way to go before he becomes a finished product. Being a midfielder himself during his playing days, Arteta can coach the youngster to become an even better footballer. With Arsenal looking likely to lose a number of midfield stars over the summer, they would need to make a statement.
And that can come in the form of them signing Sanches, a midfielder who was a shining light in Portugal’s dim Euros campaign. Having played for Swansea, Sanches also has a taste of what to expect in the Premier League. The one thing that can bother his suitors is his injury record in recent times.
But he hasn’t had a major injury for a couple of years now. Hence, it is something that the Gunners can afford to overlook considering their urgent need of getting in midfielders. Sanches has also played out wide and as a No.10 during the course of his career, something which Arteta would not mind having at his disposal too.
