Manchester United transfer news: Club 'in advanced talks' to sign Renato Sanches from Benfica for €30m

The transfer window slams shut at 11pm tomorrow night

James Orr
Sunday 31 January 2016 17:20 GMT
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Renato Sanches in action for Benfica
Renato Sanches in action for Benfica (Getty Images)

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With one day left in the transfer window, Manchester United could yet add to their squad after all.

Louis van Gaal's side have been linked with Benfica midfielder Rentao Sanches, with Portuguese daily newspaper O Jogo reporting that the club have tabled a €30 million (£22m) bid for the 18-year-old.

The report adds that United are in "advanced talks" over signing the player before 11pm tomorrow night.

January transfer window: 5 last minute deals

Sanches has yet to play at full international level for Portugal, but has appeared at Under-15 to Under-19 levels.

United manager Louis van Gaal lived to fight another day on Friday and said he would celebrate a confidence-boosting FA Cup win at Derby County with a bottle of wine provided by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

All eyes were on experienced Dutchman Van Gaal ahead of the fourth-round clash at Championship (second-tier) side Derby after mounting speculation that he faced the sack if they lost.

Clinical finishes from Wayne Rooney, Daley Blind and Juan Mata and some electrifying wing play from Anthony Martial lifted the gloom, however, and a well-deserved 3-1 win kept alive United's hopes of a first Cup triumph since 2004.

"I will go back home and wine will be ready. An expensive wine. It is from Ed Woodward," former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Van Gaal, who on Thursday accused the media of "sacking" him three times already this season, told reporters.

"I liked the performance in the first half, it had a lot of confidence and that is back which is very important.

"The second half was even better, we created a lot of chances and we scored goals. But also we created more chances to score more goals. I am a very happy coach."

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