Renato Sanches transfer would be a risk but Liverpool pulled it off before

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool could look at a transfer for Renato Sanches in January, according to reports. It would be a risk but it’s one they’ve pulled off before.

Le10Sport claims Liverpool could move for Renato Sanches in the January transfer window. He’d be a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum, should the Dutchman leave early, and is the Reds’ no.1 choice in that regard.

Now, we don’t believe Liverpool would sell Wijnaldum early. It just doesn’t make enough sense. The value of having him around for the ‘business end’ of the season outweighs any potential January fee.

But it is entirely possible that they like the look of Sanches. It’s a risk they’ve pulled off before.

Another chance

Renato Sanches has had an up-and-down career. He thrived early on at Benfica but never looked right at Bayern Munich.

He had a loan spell in the Premier League, too, with Swansea City. It did not go well.

Sanches only played 704 minutes in the league all season before returning to Bayern. If we’re using the word flop, Sanches was a flop.

But Lille took a chance on him 18 months ago, paying £22m to sign him from the Bavarians. And it’s gone well. Sanches has looked really good and rebuilt his reputation.

That really could tempt Liverpool. Here’s a player with natural ability, who has the physical characteristics to play their midfield style.

He’s still only 23, so there’s plenty of room to develop him. They could once again take a Premier League flop and give him a second chance in the league.

It’s what they did with Mohamed Salah, after all. He couldn’t get a game at Chelsea and the Blues gave up on him. But once he had a settled environment in which to develop, he kicked on and earned a move to Anfield.

Salah has since become one of the world’s best players, of course.

Sanches may never hit Salah’s levels but he’s got all the tools to be another project for Liverpool. They’re helped rehabilitate one Premier League flop before and they may well fancy their chances at doing it again.