Manchester United make €30m bid for Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches

Manchester United have made a €30m (£23m, $33m) bid for Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches as they look to pull off yet another promising signing on deadline day. The offer is similar to what happened last summer with Anthony Martial, whom the Red Devils signed for a massive amount from Monaco hours before the end of the summer transfer window.

Portuguese outlet O Jogo reports that the player has a further €10m (£8m, $11m) clause in his contract that would be triggered if the player is able to reach certain targets and which will then be added to the initial amount paid by United. Negotiations between the two clubs are reportedly at an advanced stage and could be announced before the transfer window comes to a close later today (1 February).

Any deal for the player is likely to involve him being sent on a loan back to the Portuguese club till the end of the season. The 18 year old has shown great potential in the initial few years at Porto and Louis van Gaal believes he will be a massive acquisition for the 20-time English champions in the long run. The teenager has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring two goals in the process.

The Red Devils are likely to be in the market to sign a full-back in the last few hours of the transfer window with six players currently out through injury. Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones are all unavailable, leaving Van Gaal with a seriously depleted squad.

United are currently active on three fronts: in the FA Cup they have been drawn against Shrewsbury in the fifth round; they will resume their quest to progress further in the Europa League later this month and they are currently fifth in the league, five points adrift of fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United FC