Manchester United are set to seal a £46million deal for Benfica’s teenage midfield sensation Renato Sanches.
Sportsmail revealed in January that United were deep in talks to sign the 18-year-old and Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira was in London on Thursday night to complete the move.
Sanches is under contract at Benfica until 2021 and has a buy-out clause of nearly £60m, but it is understood the club are willing to sell for £31m up front with £15m in add-ons.
Manchester United are hoping to complete a £46m deal for Portuguese starlet Renato Sanches
The box-to-box midfielder (pictured on the ball) will cost an initial fee of £31m but the move could rise to £46m
Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira (centre, pictured at St James’ Park in 2013) has arrived in London
Manchester United raided Portugal for a young player going by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo (right) in 2003
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SO WHO IS RENATO SANCHES?
Renato Sanches has 42 international caps to his name at youth level but is yet to make a senior appearance for tongkat ali male enhancement Portugal.
After impressing for Benfica B, Sanches was promoted to the first-team set up at the start of this season.
He signed a contract which will see him stay at Benfica until 2021 unless his buyout clause (nearly £60m) is met.
He has been compared to Edgar Davids, due to his hairstyle and creativity in midfield, and also another Dutchman — Clarence Seedorf.
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United met with club officials in the capital earlier this year to discuss the deal and sent scouts to watch Sanches for Portugal against Belgium in March.
The lively box-to-box midfielder has played 22 times in the Primeira Liga this season — scoring two goals — and has won two Portugal caps.
Sanches is Portugal’s hottest prospect since Cristiano Ronaldo and is represented by the Real Madrid star’s agent, Jorge Mendes.
United look set for another spending spree this summer having also registered a solid interest in £70m-rated striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international has scored 34 goals in just 41 games for Borussia Dortmund this season and is being chased by a host of European giants, including Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel is worried about his squad being dismantled, with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on his way to Manchester City and central defender Mats Hummels heading for Bayern Munich.
Any change in management at United would not affect their pursuit of Aubameyang.
Manchester United have registered interest in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of a summer move
Aubameyang has had another superb campaign with Borussia Dortmund, scoring 34 goals this season
Louis van Gaal’s position at Old Trafford isn’t thought to impact on United’s interest in the Dortmund striker
