What’s the story?
Bayern Munich are ready to sell Renato Sanches to Manchester United for €35 million, according to reports from German sports magazine Kicker. Die Roten also want to bring Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka to the Allianz Arena next season and to fund this move, they are willing to offload the Portuguese youngster.
The Euro Cup winner, Sanches, was unable to make an impact at Bayern Munich and only completed his first full game for the club recently.
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Sanches joined Munich from Benfica for €35 million after winning the Euros with Portugal that summer. But the player couldn’t perform up to standards as he neither scored nor assisted a single goal in 25 appearances.
Goretzka, meanwhile, turned down a chance to play for Borussia Dortmund before signing for Die Knappen from Bochum in 2013. The German has scored eight goals and assisted another five in 39 appearances for his club this season.
Also read: Daily transfer news and rumours roundup - 11th May 2017
The heart of the matter
Interestingly, Jose Mourinho was interested in signing Sanches for Manchester United last season but missed the chance to secure the youngster’s services as he arrived at Old Trafford only in May. “I came late; I signed in May, we started talking a week before. If I had arrived earlier, I would have fought for him,” the United manager had said in April.
Sanches, meanwhile, recently admitted that he is unhappy with his performances, insisting, however, that he wants to stay at the Allianz. “It was not very good, but the next season is sure to be better, I was expecting more, of course, but I’m confident that the future will be better,” he said earlier this week.
What’s next?
Manchester United have to confirm their place in the Champions League if they are to bring the 19-year-old to Old Trafford next season. Also, Sanches’ arrival might see a competition for places amongst the players at Old Trafford.
United already have the likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera in midfield. If Sanches moves to United next season, then Mourinho will need to take a tough call and bench one of the three.
Author’s Take
The signing of the Portuguese will surely add pace in the United midfield as well as depth in the squad but signing him should not be Mourinho’s priority. The Old Trafford outfit needs an experienced striker next season who can turn the chances that midfielders create into goals. Sanches is not a goal-scorer and hence United would do well to look elsewhere.
