Barcelona Want To Sign $43M Star Who Liverpool Need As Wijnaldum’s Replacement: Report

FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Lille midfielder Renato Sanches in the ongoing summer transfer window.

Sanches, who recently had a good Euros 2020 campaign with Portugal and was a part of the Lille squad that won the Ligue 1 in the 2020-21 season, is being chased by several top European clubs, including Liverpool FC, but Barcelona seem to be the most interested in the player, at the moment. The Catalans have made contact with the player’s representatives over a potential move to the Camp Nou, reported French publication Le10Sport.

Barcelona are yet to renew their skipper Lionel Messi’s contract as the Copa America winner is currently a free agent. The Camp Nou side is also unable to register new signings – including Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay – until their financial issues are addressed.

Even though Barcelona are undergoing a financial crisis, the club wants to land Sanches at Camp Nou. Sanches is contracted with Lillee until 2023 but wants to leave this summer. Ligue 1 champions Lillee are prepared to cash in on the Portuguese star, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in the transfer market. "He wants to go. I also know that Lille are prepared to sell Renato," Romano said on his YouTube channel.

Sanches, who netted one goal and four assists in 29 competitive matches last season, is expected to be labeled at a fee of around $43 million by Lilee, according to media outlet Sports Lens.

It was previously reported that Liverpool were seeing Sanches as a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum, who has left the Anfield side and joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a free transfer.

Sanches kickstarted his soccer career at Benfica’s academy before making his senior debut with the Lisbon-based club in 2015. He burst onto the scene when he clinched the Golden Boy award after winning the Euro 2016 with Portugal national team that also featured Cristiano Ronaldo. Sanches then made a big-money move to Bayern Munich, where he had a low-profile three seasons. Bayern sent Sanches off on a season-long loan to Premier League club Swansea. Unfortunately, Sanches couldn’t even manage to claim a place in Swansea’s playing XI.

Following a disappointing stint at Bayern Munich, Sanches was signed by Lille at $30 million, a club record for Les Dogues.