Liverpool sent scouts to watch Benfica wonderkid Renato Sanches in Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Porto, according to a report in The Express, cited by the Echo.
According to the Echo, The Express adds that several of Europe’s top clubs are hot on the tail of the 18-year-old after learning that Benfica would sell for £47m.
That appears to be the minimum price because the Echo claim that the teenager recently signed a new contract with Benfica, which includes a £62m release clause.
Either of those prices appear to put Liverpool out of range for Renato, but The Express – via the Echo – says that Reds scouts, along with those from Manchester United and Chelsea, were in attendance to see the midfielder assist former Fulham striker Konstantinos Mitroglou for Benfica’s goal.
Renato is widely considered to be one of the best young players in world football, but is surely not what Liverpool need right now; at least not at the prices quoted.
He has only played 20 senior games for Benfica and is likely to take a couple of seasons to adapt to the English lifestyle and Premier League way of playing.
Most of Jurgen Klopp’s signings this summer ideally need to be players who are more suited to his tactics, or established stars who can make an immediate difference.
If we really did have £47m to spend on a single player at the end of the season – Renato – for all of the potential that he might have – should be a long way down the list.
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