Liverpool have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Lille midfielder Renato Sanches.
While Sanches was heavily linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers in August, several bigger clubs have now been linked with the Portugal international.
Arsenal and Barcelona are said to be monitoring the situation, aware that Lille may be prepared to part ways with a player who has less than 18 months remaining on his contract.
However, according to El Nacional, Liverpool have upped their interest in the 24-year-old with talks said to be 'very advanced'.
The report acknowledges that Barcelona are currently not in a position to get a deal over the line, effectively allowing Liverpool to show their ambition to sign the player.
Despite being disrupted by a knee injury earlier in the season, Sanches has recovered to make 13 starts and three substitute appearances in all competitions.
Darren Plant
