Exclusive: "What I know" - Fabrizio Romano on Reds' reported interest in Renato Sanches

It has been reported that Liverpool are interested in Lille midfielder Renato Sanches.

With that being the case, we thought we would ask football journalist Fabrizio Romano about the aforementioned report.

Romano said that Sanches to Liverpool is not a done deal. Romano made it clear that Liverpool's priority at this current moment is to sign a winger.

Romano told Anfield Watch the following: "From what I know, it [Sanches to Liverpool] is not a done deal.

"It is not yet at an advanced stage. Because, what I have been told, the strategy for Liverpool now is not going immediately for a midfielder."

Romano added: "Their [Liverpool's] priority is to now go for some wingers. This season, they are going to lose, for some weeks, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane because of the Africa Cup of Nations.

"So, they are looking for some potential wingers and then, moving [towards] the end of the [transfer window] market, maybe some opportunity will arrive for a midfielder."

However, Romano did not rule out Sanches joining Liverpool this summer.

"He [Sanches] has always been appreciated [by Liverpool]," said Romano.

"But, at the moment, it [the deal] is not advanced yet. So, we need to wait a bit on this deal."

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

It is great to hear that Liverpool are looking to sign a winger. The reality is, Salah and Mane have been huge players for Liverpool over the years.

Salah has scored 125 goals in 203 appearances for the Reds. Mane on the other hand has found the back of the net 97 times in 218 appearances.

Therefore, it is good to hear that Liverpool are looking to put a plan in place for when both Salah and Mane head off to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Liverpool possess a number of options in midfield (Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Fabinho, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain). Therefore, it makes sense that Sanches is not a priority for Liverpool at this current moment.