Liverpool, Swansea Duel for Loan Signing of Bayern Munich's Renato Sanches
Liverpool and Swansea City are locked in a bruising battle to secure the loan signing of Bayern Munich wonderkid Renato Sanches, according to various reports.
Bild has claimed that Jurgen Klopp's Reds are the favourites to land the midfielder before Thursday's transfer deadline day, but they face serious competition for the most unlikely of sources in Paul Clement's Swans.
Indeed, Wales Online have reported that the Liberty Stadium-based club have enquired about Sanches and could pull off one of the biggest shocks of the summer window if they manage to beat Liverpool to the punch.
Sanches' short-term future in Germany is in doubt after he struggled for game time with the Bundesliga champions last term.
The 20-year-old was left out of Bayern's 18-man squad for last Saturday's victory over Werder Bremen, and manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he could allow Sanches to leave on loan to further his footballing education.
That has led to a wealth of European giants to consider making a move for him, with the likes of Monaco, Chelsea and AC Milan all expressing an interest in Sanches' services - although no Italian teams are now thought to be in the running according to Bild.
It is Liverpool and surprisingly Swansea who have been tipped to lure Sanches away from the Allianz Arena before 31st August, and it would be a massive shock if the latter pipped the Anfield-based side to his signature.
Swans boss Clement worked with Sanches at Bayern as Ancelotti's assistant before he took up the reins in south Wales following Bob Bradley's departure last February.
It is that working relationship, coupled with Swansea's ability to offer Sanches regular first-team football, that could sway the former Benfica starlet to reunite with Clement if Ancelotti's own fruitful relationship with Clement becomes the deciding factor in signing off on any possible deal.
It is up for debate as to whether Sanches would decline a move - and Champions League football no less - to Liverpool in favour of joining Swansea, and there is also the potential for another club to look to snatch the Portugal interational up permanently if they offer Bayern enough cash to part with him.
For now, though, the two Premier League clubs will duke it out to land Sanches - albeit temporarily - before the 2017 window slams shut.
