Renato Sanches ‘Keeping His Ground’ For A Probable Barca Bid
Reuters / Hannibal Hanschke
Renato Sanches is trying to keep attractive bids from Manchester United at an arm’s distance as he waits for a prospective move to Barcelona.
After having a mixed season, the 19-year-old is open to looking for options outside his club in search for a permanent first team place. Carlo Ancelotti, the Bayern Munich manager, preferred him as a substitute player, as Sanches only made 9 starts and a total of 16 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga side.
Despite his average season, Jose Mourinho is still understood to be highly impressed by his fellow Portuguese, and has been attempting a move for some time. While the Bavarians are still reeling over the player’s bid value, which could rise as high as £70 million, a lack of playing time is unsettling the midfielder.
The young starlet has been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena, with his most probable destination being Manchester United.
The Red Devils did attempt to bring in the player last season itself, but with the late appointment of Mourinho and the logistics and other technicalities involved with the Paul Pogba deal, Bayern Munich were able to snatch the midfielder.
With Jose Mourinho and Renato Sanches sharing the same agent in Jorge Mendes, the negotiations may go a lot smoother than expected this time around.
According to the Spanish outlet Diario Gol, however, Renato Sanches may have shifted his interest from the Premier League club to a La Liga giants – Barcelona.
Mourinho had apparently asked Mendes about the availability and prospects of a deal, but Sanches wishes to move to Catalonia, where he believes he will have better first-team prospects.
The deal seems a promising one, as the new manager for the Catalan club, Ernesto Valverde, needs to find a replacement for club legend Andres Iniesta, and the departing Arda Turan. Sanches, who is touted as a wonder kid since his scintillating performances at the Euros 2016, would fit the bills.
Barcelona have also looked at other options, including Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho and PSG’s Verratti. But, the ex-Benfica prodigy might provide a cheaper alternative as compared to either of those players, at a very minimal loss in quality.
Written by Srivats Venkateswaran 
Sports writer with a long experience of writing in football.Was football team head at EssentiallySports. Still deeply misses Sir Alex and Berbatov at United. An introvert at heart with a poetic hand. Engineer by choice, writer by passion.