If Chelsea follow through on rumours and sign Renato Sanches, the move to Antonio Conte’s holy grail of 3-5-2 is much more plausible.
Renato Sanches stole the show during Chelsea’s pre-season clash against Bayern Munich. It was only pre-season, but the midfielder took the chance to remind everyone of his talent. With Bayern looking to offload some of their excess baggage, the Blues are reportedly interested in signing Sanches on loan.
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"Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has made a late bid to sign Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches ahead of AC Milan. Conte is interested in taking the £30 million Portuguese star on loan for the season and has made an enquiry during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Singapore. – via The Telegraph"
The Portuguese midfielder is a hotly touted prospect. At only 19 years of age, he has already been subject to a high-profile transfer. Bayern signed him from Benfica last summer in a deal that could potentially reach €80 million.
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Perhaps the magnitude of that agreement weighed heavy on the youngster’s shoulders. Sanches underwhelmed last season and Carlo Ancelotti is looking to send him out on loan this term.
His performance against the Blues was timed perfectly and Chelsea would do well to bring him in. With Conte ultimately looking to switch to a 3-5-2 system, Sanches is the final piece of the jigsaw.
The five-man midfield would be comprised of two wingbacks, N’Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko and a more attacking option. Unfortunately, Cesc Fabregas doesn’t offer the dynamism and speed needed in the role. Hence, Chelsea are not able to use that formation at the moment.
Sanches, although not the perfect fit, is certainly a better option than Fabregas. The fluidity in his game will ease pressure on Bakayoko and Kante, while also providing the necessary support to the top two. With the excessively creative Eden Hazard likely to be paired with Alvaro Morata up front, Sanches could be a decent foil.
Moreover, Conte has already proven his ability to teach players unfamiliar roles. Sanches looks like an ideal person to be moulded into that spare midfield position. At his age as well, he will probably pick up things much quicker than Fabregas, for example.
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With a loan deal, the Blues will also have a year to evaluate whether he is suitable in the long-term. Given the wealth of talent currently in the German capital, Bayern may be vulnerable to a tempting offer. If everything goes to plan, Chelsea could set up their midfield for the next decade.
Next: Chelsea transfers: 5 realistic targets the Blues should pursue
What do you think? Is Sanches worth pursuing? Will he be the final piece in the 3-5-2 jigsaw? Let us know in the comments below!