Highly rated youngster Renato Sanches’ move to Manchester United inched closer as the club have a ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ with Benfica over the sale of the player according to report in Portugal.
The 18-year had been heavily linked throughout the January transfer window, but Benfica wanted to keep hold of him until the summer. Despite Louis Van Gaal’s future in doubt, United will push through for the move similar to the ones they made for Luke Shaw and Ander Herera.
Sanches has been making quite a name for himself after his performances in his first season as a professional in Portugal have caught the eye of several clubs but the Red Devils seem to have won the race for the whizkid.
The deal is apparently worth a combined fee of €60 million Euros but Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira wants amendments in the agreement. The deal is split as €40 million to be paid up front by United and €20 million in variables depending on several factors such as s performance and number appearances
If the reported fee is correct it would break the transfer record for a Portuguese player. The current one stands at €40 million after Benfica sold their ex-midfielder Axel Witsel to Zenit St. Petersberg.
The midfielder has been hailed as ‘the new Piogba’ and is already become a regular in the side. SO far he has made 18 appearances in all completion scoring twice. The youngster’s buout clause was initially a €30 million. But after interest from Bayern Munich and Juventus that figure rose to €45. Real Madrid also started keeping tabs on the player after which the club raised his clause to a whopping €80 million.
Considering he was signed as nine-year-old for a meager €750 it is set to be a major profit for the club.
Mourinho to United rumors growing
Sanches might be moving to United in the summer but it looks like he won’t be their biggest acquisition as reports of Jose Mourinho taking over int he summer continues to gather steam.
The latest rumors suggest that he has already bought a house in Manchester according to the Manchester Evening news. With Louis Van Gaal under huge pressure after defeats in the premier league and most recently the Europa League Mourinho’s arrival seems inevitable
So if these reports are true the youngster might link up with his fellow countryman at Old Trafford in the summer.
