Renato Sanches all-but confirms Arsenal transfer interest and claims he is ‘ready’ for another big-club move
RENATO SANCHES all but confirmed Arsenal's transfer interest in him.
And the Portugal midfielder, 24, revealed he is ready for another big-club move following his Bayern Munich struggles.
Sanches is currently at Ligue 1 side Lille, helping them win the league last season.
But with his contract expiring next summer, he continues to be linked with a switch away - with some of Europe's heavyweights circling.
Arsenal were thought to be keen to bring him to the Emirates in January, especially with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny set to be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Now Sanches has dropped the strongest indicator a transfer could be on the cards.
“Milan are a big and historic club. It’s class, I like them.
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“I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling and which are not, but I can’t tell now.
"But I know I’m ready. If an offer comes in, I’ll find out what’s best for me."
Sanches was heavily linked with Barcelona last summer.
But the former Benfica star's switch fell through due to a knee problem he picked up at the beginning of the season that needed surgery.
He added: "Many clubs were interested this summer, when I sustained the injury, I understood that I would have stayed at Lille.
“It was all done with Barcelona, I think it all collapsed because of the injury.”
Sanches burst on to the scene at Benfica and won the 2016 Golden Boy in the same year he joined Bayern Munich.
But a flop loan to Swansea in 2017-18 saw his career stagnate - the infamous pass to the advertising hoardings the lowest point - before rediscovering his best form for Lille since arriving in 2019, helping them win the title last season.
Sanches has 32 Portugal caps with three goals and was part of the squad that won Euro 2016 where he was crowned Young Player of the Tournament and broke a host of national records.
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Speaking about his teenage transfer to Germany, Sanches continued: "When I arrived at Bayern Munich, I was not ready to play in such a club.
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“I was very young. And when I got ready, the opportunity to play with this team never came.
“Today I feel ready. I understand football better, I have more experience, I know what to do to play in this kind of club and that changes everything.”