Chelsea transfer news: Surprise ‘approach’ made for 32-cap international midfielder who would not cost a penny

By Oliver Thomas | 07 Sep 2026 15:35, Last updated: 07 Sep 2026 15:39

Chelsea person reportedly expressed an involvement successful signing Renato Sanches connected a escaped transfer.

The 29-year-old midfielder is presently without a nine aft his declaration astatine Paris Saint-Germain was terminated astatine the opening of this month, ending his four-year spell astatine the Parc des Princes.

Xabi Alonso was keen to fortify his Chelsea midfield successful the closing stages of the summertime transportation window, aft the Blues agreed to merchantability Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125m.

However, a woody for Monaco’s Lamine Camara fell through astatine the eleventh hour, leaving Chelsea abbreviated successful the midfield department.

Captain Reece James started successful midfield alongside Romeo Lavia for Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal, portion Malo Gusto and Valentin Barco person besides been utilized successful the mediate of the transportation this term.

Moises Caicedo is regarded arsenic Chelsea’s first-choice centre-midfielder, but helium is presently sidelined done injury, portion 36-year-old summertime signing Jordan Henderson is besides successful the attraction country and is inactive waiting to marque his debut for the club.

Chelsea considered determination for escaped cause Sanches

With this successful mind, Foot Mercato, via Sport Witness, claims that Chelsea precocious approached Sanches aft adding him to a shortlist of imaginable midfield targets.

Sanches is said to person met respective criteria valued by the West Londoners, including his top-level acquisition and contiguous availability, but the club’s hierarchy person yet decided not to prosecute the substance further.

Chelsea chiefs person opted to spot their spot successful Alonso existing squad, and transportation discussions volition astir apt resume person to the January window.

Interest successful Sanches - a 32-cap Portugal planetary who has not represented his state since 2021 - comes aft recent reports claiming that Chelsea had considered a determination for escaped cause and erstwhile Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

The emergence and autumn of Sanches present without a nine astatine 29

Sanches played conscionable 27 times for PSG crossed each competitions, and helium spent the past 3 seasons retired connected indebtedness astatine 3 antithetic clubs, representing Roma, Benfica and astir precocious Panathinaikos successful 2025-26.

He made the immense bulk of his 24 appearances for Panathinaikos nether erstwhile Chelsea brag Rafael Benitez, helping the Greek broadside decorativeness 4th successful the Super League, scope the Greek Cup semi-finals and the past 16 of the Europa League.

However, Panathinaikos opted against signing Sanches connected a imperishable basis, and present that helium has departed PSG, the midfielder is connected the lookout for a caller situation successful the premier twelvemonth of his career.

Sanches was erstwhile regarded arsenic 1 of the brightest young talents successful satellite shot erstwhile helium burst onto the country astatine Benfica successful 2015, earlier starring for Euro 2016 champions Portugal arsenic a teenager.

A high-profile determination to Bayern Munich for the 2016 Golden Boy victor soon followed, but helium struggled to nail down a regular starting spot and was loaned retired to Swansea City the pursuing season.

He rediscovered his signifier implicit a three-year spell with French nine Lille, earlier joining PSG for €13m successful 2022, but helium was yet deemed surplus to requirements nether Luis Enrique.