Man Utd Close-In On £30.4m Deal For Portuguese Midfielder

With the winter transfer window coming to a close, manager’s are working hard trying to strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season. Today, Manchester United are linked with Renato Sanches…

Manchester United look like they are making a late move in the transfer market with the Express claiming the Red Devils are closing in on a £30.4m deal to sign highly-rated Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches.

The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting young prospects in Portugal since breaking in to the Benfica first team this season having come through the clubs youth set-up.

Sanches’s potential caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs so Benfica moved to protect their investment after tying the midfielder down to a long-term contract with a buy-out worth a staggering £60m.

However, it looks as though Manchester United are closing in on a deal for half that price as the Express are citing reports coming out of Portugal that claim the Red Devils are on the verge of completing a deal worth £30.4m.

The newspaper states that United are in advanced talks with Benfica officials and have made it clear they are willing to pay an initial £22.8m for Sanches with a further £7.6m in additional bonuses.

Talks are set to continue but time is running out if United want to get things wrapped-up before Monday night’s deadline, so we’ll have to wait and see if they can get the deal over the line.

Louis van Gaal is yet to bring in a single player this month, despite growing pressure on his position as boss following a hugely inconsistent season, but Sanches would be an interesting signing.

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The teenager is a central midfielder so I think he’d be viewed as a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick, with the 34-year-old set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires this summer.