wicked.football

Arsenal are showing an interest in Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches, according to a report.

Sanches is back on track after a difficult spell in his career. After breaking onto the scene at a young age, he helped his country win Euro 2016. He earned a big move to Bayern Munich the same year, but it did not quite work out. Neither did a loan spell to Swansea City.

But since leaving Bayern for Lille in 2019, Sanches has begun to show what he is capable of again. Still only 23 years old, he has made 59 appearances over the past two seasons. Thanks to his form in France, he is now back on the international stage.

Sanches impressed in his most recent start for Portugal at Euro 2020, in their final group match against France. His country will be defending their title in the knockout stages, but when that journey ends, his club future may come into question.

The midfielder seems to have earned another opportunity in the Premier League. For example, Liverpool have been linked. But according to 90min, there is also concrete interest from Arsenal.

The Gunners are in the process of overhauling their squad after missing out on European football. Their strategy will be to find the appropriate long-term reinforcements for the positions they need.

Midfield is one priority, with Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira likely to leave after loan spells away. Further forward, Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard have returned to parent club Real Madrid.

Sanches could help provide the quality Arsenal need in their midfield. Therefore, the club have asked Lille to keep them up to date with any developments about his future.

The Benfica academy graduate is willing to prove himself in the Premier League again after helping Lille to the Ligue 1 title.

What’s more, the French club could be open to a sale if they can make a profit on him. He was their record signing for a fee of €25m two years ago and they should be able to fetch a larger fee.

Arsenal are now seeking to find out what that price tag may be.

Arsenal could do midfielder swap

Another midfielder who could join Arsenal this summer is Amadou Diawara, as part of a swap deal with Roma for Granit Xhaka.

Personal terms between Xhaka and Roma have long since been agreed. However, the two clubs have thus far failed to reach an agreement over a fee.

Arsenal are reported to be seeking £20m. Per the Express, Roma have shown little desire to rise above £12m.

Now, per the same report, a solution could be found via the inclusion of a Roma makeweight.

Citing Italian outlet Il Romanista, it is claimed that 23-year-old midfield star Amadou Diawara could help smooth negotiations.

Diawara only managed 18 league appearances last term, with most of those coming from the bench.

Nevertheless, Arsenal are said to have been ‘keeping tabs on him for some time’. Additionally, both they and Roma are ‘open’ to the idea of using him to make up the discrepancy in valuations.

It could be one of many changes to the Arsenal midfield this summer.

READ MORE: Arsenal backed to secure second piece of ‘superb’ business for £30m talent

The post Arsenal ask to be kept informed in transfer race for resurgent title winner appeared first on TEAMtalk.