Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
There have been a few suggestions that Chelsea might consider signing a free agent after missing out on Lamine Camara, and Renato Sanches is said to be an option for Xabi Alonso’s side.
A Euro 2016 winner, former PSG, Benfica and Bayern Munich star Renato Sanches is currently a free agent. A loan to Panathinaikos didn’t materialise into a permanent deal, and he left PSG at the end of his deal.
Reports say that Chelsea considered signing Sanches after Monaco blocked the sale of Camara in the final hours of the summer window. However, it has not gone beyond that, and the Blues are yet to do a deal.
Chelsea remain light in midfield, though. Jordan Henderson and Moises Caicedo are injured, while Alonso is yet to trust Valentin Barco. It has seen Reece James and Malo Gusto used as makeshift midfielders.
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Xabi Alonso played alongside Renato Sanches at Bayern Munich
Despite Sanches still only in his twenties, he played alongside Alonso in a Bayern Munich shirt. Alonso spent three years at Bayern between 2014 and 2017, with Sanches joining the club for £30m in 2016.
FC Bayern Muenchen - Training Session
Photo by A. Beier/FC Bayern via Getty Images
The two played together a total of 10 times for Bayern Munich, winning eight times, drawing once against Koln and losing once to Hoffenheim. Clearly, Alonso knows all about Sanches and who he could sign.
What Xabi Alonso said about Renato Sanches back in 2016
Sanches had just signed for Bayern after winning Euro 2016, when Alonso – still playing – was asked about the Portugal star: “He’s 18, 19 in August and he’s such a promising player. He has so much power.
“So much energy. He’s hungry to win; I’m looking forward to working with him. So far he’s European champions with Portugal. Can he learn from me? Maybe I’m able to learn some things from him as well.”
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Will Chelsea make a move for Sanches in due course?
Right now, the chances of Chelsea signing a free agent and in particular, Sanches, are slim. But should Reece James, Romeo Lavia or Valentin Barco join Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson, who knows.
Caicedo and Henderson are injured and Chelsea are lacking midfielders. An injury to another midfielder heightens the need for additions considerably. If Chelsea do sign a free agent, it is likely to be Sanches.