Renato Sanches remains a player to keep an eye on as the minutes tick away on the final day of the January transfer window.
The Portuguese international has just 18 months remaining on his current Lille contract and has shown no sign he is willing to extend that.
Sanches spent much of the summer window linked with a move to the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Wolves all linked.
Reports suggested that Wolves were the closest to actually signing the 24-year-old, only backing out of the deal due to concerns over an injury.
Now fully fit, Sanches is again at the centre of transfer speculation, with rumours he could yet seal a move before Monday night’s deadline.
Sky Sport Italia claim AC Milan’s attempt to sign the midfielder collapsed late on Sunday evening, despite agreeing a deal with the club themselves.
The Rossoneri reportedly lodged an offer in the region of 25million-plus bonuses, with Lille happy to let the player leave.
However, their attempts were foiled after failing to come to an agreement on personal terms with the player.
Reports in Italy suggested that although Milan were ready to outlay the money needed to sign him, they were unable to bring his salary demands down.
And with just one day of the window remaining, bosses at San Siro felt there was insufficient time to bridge the gap between their offer and his own target.
Milan are set to target Sanches again at the end of the season, but they now risk missing out on him between now and then.
Sanches himself has already admitted that it is time for him to move on from Lille, just one season removed from helping them upset the odds and win the Ligue 1 title ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking ahead of the window opening, Sanches namechecked Arsenal and Milan as two clubs potentially in the mix for a transfer he feels ready for.
He said: “Maybe Milan and Arsenal are interested but I don’t know. I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling me but I can’t say right now.
"But I know I’m ready. If an offer comes in, I’ll find out what’s best for me.”
Arsenal’s need for a midfielder is apparent, with Mikel Arteta keen to add a partner alongside former Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey.
The Gunners have high hopes for Albert Sambi Lokonga, who signed in the summer, while Granit Xhaka remains an option in the middle of the park.
January has so far been a frustrating month for the Gunners having failed to bring in a player that will immediately strengthen the starting XI in their bid for a Champions League finish.
