Transfer Profile: Renato Sanches

Renato Sanches

Transfer Profile: Renato Sanches

By Tum Balogun

Among the list of reinforcements required for the upcoming season is a midfield general to bolster the Arsenal engine room. 


In a position the Gunners hope Albert Sambi Lokonga can fill long-term, a dynamic number eight could prove vital in taking the club from Champions League nearly men back into Europe’s elite. 


One name bandied about in recent weeks is the Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches. 


But how has the youngster developed in recent years and what could he bring to Mikel Arteta’s side? 


 

Who is he? 


Renato Sanches’ career progression has been strange, or at least, not as upwardly mobile we may have expected from a prodigious talent.


At one point he looked destined for the very top of European football.


At the tender age of 18 he starred in Portugal’s successful EURO 2016 campaign, winning Young Player of the Tournament, and looked set to anchor the Bayern Munich midfield - with whom he signed for prior to the competition - for years to come. 


Unfortunately for the young ace, disappointing form in Bavaria saw him shipped off to South Wales for an even more lacklustre spell on loan at then Premier League Swansea City.


It left Sanches in the wilderness and a move to Ligue 1 side Lille was deemed best to rehabilitate his fledgling career - an assignment he passed with flying colours. 


The French club’s stunning league triumph in 2021, three years after narrowly avoiding relegation, was spearheaded by the dynamic midfielder. 


Aside for some time on the sidelines nursing a muscle injury, Sanches’ on-field performances approached his best and he chipped in with four goal involvements from his 23 league appearances.


Unfortunately for The Mastiffs, the departure of manager Christophe Galtier saw them fall back down to earth with a disappointing tenth place finish in their Ligue 1 title defence.

 

Yet more time on the treatment table awaited Sanches with nine fixtures missed through meniscus and recurring muscle ailments. 

 


What will he bring to Arsenal? 


The five-time title winner in Germany and France is a strong, skilful and direct ball player who can operate at the base or on the right of a midfield. 


Sanches has also been deployed further forward but his limited goal output highlights an area of development in his game. 


Though those statistics should not undermine his influence on a game, the midfielder has the ability to take over any contest and is bold enough to try risky passes and take on defenders. 


He has also shown himself adept at taking set-pieces and has primarily been used in counter-attacking systems.

 


Verdict 


A player of Sanches’ age - with the physical and technical attributes he possesses - is perfect for the kind of football Arteta intends to play and the funds required to secure his signature are well within the club’s budget. 


However, Arsenal are not the only side strongly linked with the midfielder and his former Lille manager’s imminent appointment at PSG make the French side a possible destination. 


Italian champions AC Milan are also rumoured to be in the frame with both sides able to offer the Portuguese star a return to Champions League football. 


The Gunners should definitely look to pursue Sanches - this season’s unforgiving early schedule and the increased demands of Europa League football mean they can ill afford to be left wanting on account of qualified squad members. 


Lest last season’s inadequate team construction rear its ugly head again this term.   


Photo Credit: Getty Images 

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