Liverpool ‘reach £18m Renato Sanches transfer agreement with Lille’ amid Mohamed Salah exit talk

, Anfield bigwigs are set to act by forking out £18million for Sanches, who was tipped for the top after winning the Golden Boy award in 2016.

If the report is accurate then the Portugal international is on the brink of a second crack at the Premier League.

Sanches joined Swansea on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich to much fanfare in 2017 but managed just 12 appearances in a miserable spell at the Liberty Stadium.

He has revitalised his career in France with Lille after a club-record move in the summer of 2019 so much so that Liverpool are reportedly keen.

He's scored once in eight Ligue 1 outings this term and three goals last season.

Lille are among a host of French clubs concerned about their finances following the collapse of Ligue 1's TV deal. The alleged agreement for Sanches, 23, would boost their coffers for the second half of the campaign.

Tuttomercatoweb's claim comes after Mohamed Salah refused to rule out a potential transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Speaking last week, Salah said: "I think Madrid and Barcelona are two top clubs.

"Who knows what will happen in the future, but right now I am focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool again."

Salah's former international team-mate Mohamed Aboutrika sparked worry on Merseyside by claiming his "upset" pal could be sold.

Aboutrika said: "If Salah was a player at Real Madrid or Barcelona, and playing at the same level as Liverpool, he would've won the Ballon d'Or, and it is normal for a Spanish newspaper to ask Salah about Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"In my opinion, Liverpool are considering selling Salah for economic purposes.

"I do not have any influence over Salah's decisions, he is my friend and brother, and he is smart enough to know what is best for him."

But SunSport understands Klopp and the Kop hierarchy are completely happy with the free-scoring forward and have no thoughts of offloading him.