Lille midfielder Renato Sanches is not expected to leave the Ligue One side before the summer, according to The Athletic‘s Gunners’ correspondent James McNicholas.
The Portuguese international spoke out about Arsenal’s potential interest last month, and there has been some speculation that Mikel Arteta’s side could make a bid for the player in the January transfer window.
However, McNicholas says that the Gunners have not yet made an approach for Sanches and, if they do make a move, a deal is only likely to happen at the end of the season:
🔺 Futures of Nketiah & Lacazette giving Arsenal striker dilemma
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🔺 A left-footed midfielder required?@ArtdeRoche & @gunnerblog answer your Arsenal transfer-related questions…https://t.co/f6AV9b4JDy— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) December 30, 2021
Lille reportedly put a €35m (£29m) asking price on Sanches in the summer but that figure may have increased after their finances were strengthened by qualifying from their group in the Champions League.
Even so, with the club currently sitting eighth in Ligue One, that stance may change again by June if they don’t qualify for next season’s competition.