Arsenal target Renato Sanches’ bargain transfer fee revealed

Arsenal are locked in the middle of an engrossing Premier League top four hunt, a race that still has 14 hurdles to overcome before the promised land can be reached.

Or it might evade Mikel Arteta’s side. If their rivals go on incredible runs and win all their games, then what is it that Arsenal can do? Sitting around and sulking is probably up there.

That’s because the calibre of player this club can attract with Champions League football is what they haven’t had access to for nearly half a decade. In order to compete with the very best, Arsenal need to have the very best.

They have some magnificent talent already with Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey in particularly solid form, but those little dashes of quality in key areas is what will elevate them to the next level.

Arsenal can land second midfield transfer for bargain £16m as Renato Sanches joins Fabian Ruiz in being available for cut-price summer move

Centre-forward is the main source of excitement, although midfield isn’t far behind. While Granit Xhaka and Partey form a superb partnership even in their newer roles, the Swiss remains heavily linked with a summer departure. One player who could replace him is Fabian Ruiz, who reports have valued at a cut-price £16m. He was £50m last summer.

As per Jeunes Footeux he’s not alone, with Renato Sanches, who the Gunners have had long-standing interest in, also set to be available in the summer for that measly fee. Out of contract in 2023, the Lille midfielder is all but certain to depart in the summer and will have his pick of clubs to choose from.

€20m (£16m) is said to be enough to lure him away, while it’s also fair to say that any side not competing in the Champions League will find it incredibly difficult to convince the player of joining.

It’s said that Arsenal had scouts watching the 24-year-old as Lille fell to a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a match in which the Portugal international shone brightest of all his teammates.

As has been the case throughout his career, injuries are the outstanding concern when it comes to Sanches. Currently on a run of missing just one game since October, this is one of the more remarkable run of fixtures he’s had without spending time in the treatment room. But, what is worrying, is the volume of muscle injuries he has. It’s a recurring theme.

In terms of Sanches the player, everyone knows his quality. In Arsenal’s system where duel No. 8’s are either side of Partey, what improvements the team can get from the position Xhaka plays is someone who can not only pass, but also travel with the ball. Sanches is an elite ball carrier who can dribble with both feet, and possesses that bit of craft in the final third to unlock a defence.

Given his obvious talents and age profile, Arsenal certainly won’t be alone in tracking the midfielder when the summer comes around.