Arsenal are 'very interested' in signing Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, according to recent reports.
French outlet Le10sport claims that the Gunners have made their interest in Sanches known to the player, the club and his representatives.
However, the report states that the north Londoners are yet to make a formal offer to the Ligue 1 side, unlike Italian giants AC Milan who are reportedly further along in their pursuit of the Portuguese international.
Lille are also thought to be happy to allow Sanches, who is valued at £27million on Transfermarkt, to leave the Stade Pierre Mauroy in the January transfer window if the offer is 'sufficient'.
Arsenal may indeed be in the market for a new midfielder in the coming months considering the long-term injury to Granit Xhaka, coupled with the fact that both Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey will be heading to the African Cup of Nations in the New Year.
Whilst Elneny is much lower down the pecking order, Mikel Arteta's side have become increasingly reliant on tough-tackling maestro Partey, who joined the club from Atletico Madrid back in October 2020.
The Ghana international is unbeaten in an Arsenal shirt so far this season, avoiding defeat in each of his eight appearances across all competitions.
The 28-year-old was plagued by a plethora of injury setbacks during his first campaign in England and he missed the Gunners last match, a 1-0 win over Watford earlier this month, due to a slight groin injury.
Hale End academy graduate Ainsley Maitland-Niles took his place in the starting lineup, delivering a solid performance that eventually saw him named as Sky Sports' Man of the Match by former Arsenal striker Alan Smith.
