---
title: "Liverpool: No advanced talks for Renato Sanches"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-no-advanced-talks-for-renato-sanches/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-07-10T17:15:33Z"
modified: "2021-07-10T17:15:33Z"
---

# Liverpool: No advanced talks for Renato Sanches

**Liverpool are not currently close to signing Renato Sanches but the player has long been ‘appreciated’ by the club, transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has told [Anfield Watch](https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/exclusive-what-i-know-fabrizio-romano-on-reds-reported-interest-in-renato-sanches/).**

### The lowdown

Sanches made [23 Ligue 1 appearances](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/299450/Show/Renato-Sanches), including 14 starts, for Lille last season as they beat Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title. The former Bayern Munich midfielder averaged 1.7 dribbles, 3.5 successful long balls and 0.8 key passes per game (via [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/299450/Show/Renato-Sanches)).

Sanches then made [four appearances](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/299450/Show/Renato-Sanches) for Portugal at the European Championship and caught the eye, with BBC Sport’s [Jermaine Jenas](https://www.rousingthekop.com/2021/06/24/jermaine-jenas-praises-reported-liverpool-target-renato-sanches/) hailing him as ‘terrific’.

It was reported in regional newspaper [La Voix du Nord](https://journal.lavoix.com/lavoixdessports#VDN/VDS/web,2021-07-05,42ARTOIS|VDS,2021-07-05,42ARTOIS,1|1) this week that Liverpool are ‘very interested’ in the 23-year-old. Encouragingly, one ‘experienced agent’ says that any ‘decent talent’ outside of PSG ‘has a value right now’ amid a financial crisis in French football (via [The Athletic)](https://theathletic.com/2695742/2021/07/09/whos-signing-camavinga-aouar-and-doku-the-ligue-1-exodus-being-driven-by-a-financial-crisis/).

Liverpool may therefore be able to strike a cut-price deal for a player who could replace Paris-bound Georginio Wijnaldum.

### The latest

Romano says that recruiting a midfielder is not Liverpool’s current priority, and as such a deal for Sanches isn’t thought to be imminent. Instead, he urged any Reds fans keen on Sanches to be patient.

“From what I know, it is not a done deal,” he told [Anfield Watch](https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/exclusive-what-i-know-fabrizio-romano-on-reds-reported-interest-in-renato-sanches/), adding: “It is not yet at an advanced stage because, what I have been told, the strategy for Liverpool is not going immediately for a midfielder.

“He has always been appreciated but at the moment, it is not advanced yet. So we need to wait a bit on this deal.”

### The verdict

Sanches is a gifted player, and his ability to [glide through challenges](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDER_qV-v-U) as he drives forward makes him particularly easy on the eye.

However, this isn’t a deal Liverpool should pursue. Wijnaldum was [hardly ever injured](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/georginio-wijnaldum/verletzungen/spieler/49499), but Sanches’ [fitness record](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/renato-sanches/verletzungen/spieler/258027) makes for worrying reading, so he doesn’t fit the bill as a replacement for the Dutchman.

After a [succession of injuries](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-injury-news-latest-list-alisson-thiago-alexander-arnold-robertson-henderson-780156) decimated their Premier League title defence, the Reds ought to proceed with caution with regards to the Lille maestro.

**In other news, [there’s one surprise omission from Liverpool’s pre-season squad](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-news/liverpool-sheyi-ojo-not-in-reds-pre-season-squad/).**