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Renato Sanches to Manchester United: Benfica midfielder 'on verge' of agreeing £46m move after London talks

Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira flew to London on Thursday to discuss the transfer of the highly-rated 18-year-old

Jack de Menezes

Friday 29 April 2016 08:22 BST

Renato Sanches is reported to be close to a £46m switch to Manchester United (Getty)

Manchester United are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Benfica wonderkid Renato Sanches in a deal that could cost as much as £46m, according to reports.

Sanches has caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs after becoming the latest player to come through Benfica’s talented academy, and the Portuguese midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a summer move, with United believed to be favourites to land the 18-year-old.

That now looks close to confirmed after the Daily Mail reported that Benfica’s president Luis Felipe Vieira arrived in London on Thursday night to complete negotiations with the Premier League club, which – if agreed – will be United’s first signing of the year after they remained inactive in the January transfer window.

Sanches has a release clause in his contract which stands at close to £60m, but it’s believed that United have been able to talk the Portuguese club down to an initial fee of £31m, which could rise to £46m with add-ons included. Despite winning just two international caps so far, Sanches is tipped to have a bright future and is tied down to Benfica until 2021 – hence why United are having to pay such an inflated fee for an 18-year-old.

The teenager made his Portugal debut this season after making 42 appearances at youth level, and his has been a regular in Benfica’s Primeira Liga campaign since graduating from the reserve team at the end of October, scoring two goals along the way.

Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

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1/11Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

John Stones

Mourinho's admiration for the Everton defender is well known with the Portuguese coach understood to have been behind Chelsea's bids for the England international last summer. Everton refused to relent back then but an offer of even more money from Manchester United might be too tempting to turn down.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas was understood to be on Manchester United's radar when he left Barcelona for Chelsea and the Spain international is of the quality that would improve United's current squad. Despite the reports that the former Arsenal player was among those who forced Mourinho out at Stamford Bridge, he was one of the few to speak publicly in glowing terms of Mourinho. "Thank you for all you have done for me," he wrote on Twitter. "I owe you a lot and we will all miss you. Good luck in the future."

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Gareth Bale

Manchester United hold a long-term interest in Bale and Mourinho's arrival will only strengthen their determination to sign the Wales international. It's been suggested that the Real Madrid forward has been put off moving to Old Trafford due to the uncertainty surrounding the club, but the appointment of Mourinho would go a long way to dispelling fears that Manchester United are a club in flux.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata has caught the eye of Arsenal, Chelsea and United, but the appointment of Mourinho as manager could give the Manchester club the advantage. Any move for Morata is likely to involve Real Madrid, and Mourinho's good relationship with his former club would help smooth over negotiations.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Raphael Varane

Manchester United spent much of last summer pursuing Sergio Ramos, but a repeat attempt to sign the Real Madrid centre-back appears highly unlikely if Mourinho takes charge due to their tempestuous relationship during their shared time at the Bernabeu. A move for Ramos' fellow centre-back Varane does seem plausible though, with Mourinho signing the defender from Lens and giving him his opportunity at Real Madrid.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Paul Pogba

Who doesn't want Paul Pogba? Despite claims the midfielder will move to Barcelona in the summer, nothing has been confirmed and while that remains the case the France international will continue to be linked with big-money moves elsewhere, including a return to Manchester United. Chelsea reportedly made a huge bid for the 22-year-old last summer, confirming that Mourinho is a fan.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Andre Gomes

The Valencia midfielder emerged on United's radar before Mourinho was linked with the club, but he appears to be a fan of the 22-year-old. One problem will be Valencia's valuation, which currently sits in excess of £40m.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Luka Modric

Mourinho revealed that he tried to sign Modric for Chelsea in 2014, confirming that a reunion with the player he worked with at Real Madrid appeals. It was Mourinho who signed the Croatian from Tottenham in 2012 and with the 30-year-old still operating at the top level on a consistent basis, he would certainly have something to offer Manchester United.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Joao Mario

Joao Mario is wanted by Mourinho after the Sporting Lisbon midfielder impressed his compatriot. Valued at around £27m, the 23-year-old would be an expensive acquisition for United, but he could follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo in heading to Old Trafford from the Portuguese club.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Ezequiel Garay

Garay worked under Mourinho at Real Madrid, but while he is being linked with a move to United, it's uncertain if he would be considered a first-team starter. Garay was sold by Mourinho to Benfica in 2011, having failed to impress the Portuguese, and he could be brought in to try and add the defensive depth that United are clearly lacking.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Mauro Icardi

The Inter Milan captain has reiterated his commitment to the Italian side, but offers are still expected to be made for the 23-year-old with both United and Arsenal linked with the striker as well as Chelsea.

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His immediate attentions will be on trying to secure the Primeira Liga title given that Benfica lead Sporting Lisbon by just two points with five matches remaining, with Sanches’s side able to extend the lead when they face Vitoria Guimaraes on Friday night.

Bu talks between United and Sanches’s camp are expected to go smoothly given that his agent, Jorge Mendes, has extremely good relations with United after structuring deals for Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria and David De Gea in the past, and the so-called ’super-agent’ has also held talks over a possible appointment of Jose Mourinho should Louis van Gaal be sacked in the summer.

Renato Sanches has a buy-out clause of £60m in his current contract (Getty)

Sanches’s box-to-box style has seen him compared to Dutch greats Edgar Davids and Clarence Seedorf, and he is rated as the most talented teenager to come through Portuguese youth football since Cristiano Ronaldo emerged at Sporting in 2002.

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