Manchester United Transfer News: Renato Sanches Summer Bid, Lucas Biglia Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly informed super-agent Jorge Mendes they intend to move for Benfica starlet Renato Sanches this summer, while the club's chances of landing Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia have been hit.

According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, United's executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, has told Mendes—who represents Sanches—they're prepared to sign the teenager. However, competition is rife.

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The 18-year-old is allegedly valued at £46 million, despite only making his first-team professional debut in October, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all linked with a move for his services this summer.

Sanches has made senior 19 appearances for Benfica this season, and Metro's Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen highlighted his impressive performance during a 5-0 win over Belenenses on Friday evening:

Manchester United may struggle to lure the world's top talents to Old Trafford due to their slump in recent seasons and a failure to compete in Europe, but the Red Devils can still secure Europe's emerging youngsters.

Portugal under-19 star Sanches could also go a long way to filling the role of midfield enforcer United fans thought summer signing Morgan Schneiderlin might occupy, only for the Frenchman to struggle under manager Louis van Gaal.

Luckhurst also took note of the fact intensifying reports regarding Jose Mourinho's possible takeover at the club's helm make a deal with Sanches more likely, considering the player and manager share Mendes as an agent.

The chances of landing Sanches look bright, but the same can't be said for Biglia, whose agent Enzo Montepaone has told Italian newspaper Il Tempo his client could move to Inter (h/t Daily Star's Chisanga Malata). When asked if Biglia would sign a new deal in Rome, Montepaone replied: "It's not a sure thing. There are so many issues to sort out in the days ahead. Inter? That's a possibility."

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Biglia has been associated with a move to Old Trafford since his days at Anderlecht, having completed a move to Lazio in 2013 and going on to establish himself as one of Serie A's leading anchors.

However, contrary to his agent's response, Biglia was recently quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio translator David Amoyal and allegedly professed to being "serene" in his current setting:

At 30 years of age, Biglia may not be the ideal recruit for a midfield that already contains Michael Carrick, 34, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, 31, especially considering he has more than two years remaining on his deal.

Inter have made a habit out of snapping up Italy's top talents lately in their bid to mount a challenge for the Scudetto, and their interest in Biglia could see the player head to Milan instead of Manchester.