The uncertainty over Renato Sanches’ future at Lille beyond this summer’s transfer window has grown after the midfielder was left out of his side’s matchday squad to face Nice in Ligue 1 action.
Sanches has been backed to call it quits at the French domestic champions this summer with Liverpool and FC Barcelona claimed to be in the race to sign the 23-year-old.
Reports from the Liverpool Echo suggest that his omission from Lille’s squad despite no information of an injury issue adds to the speculation surrounding his future at the club amid Liverpool’s strong interest in the Portugal international.
Jurgen Klopp is understood to be on the search for midfield reinforcements following Gini Wijnaldum’s exit from the Anfield camp and the Liverpool boss has zeroed in on Sanches as a viable replacement for Wijnaldum in the centre of the park for Liverpool.
With Lille’s difficulties on the financial front lending weight to rumours that the Ligue 1 holders can be forced into parting ways with Sanches, Liverpool will be backed as frontrunners to land the highly-rated midfielder’s signature.