Sanches is desperate for more first-team opportunities this season (Picture: Getty)

Fresh from qualifying for the Champions League, Liverpool are ready to make a late move to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches, according to reports in Germany.

The Portuguese starlet burst onto the scene at Euro 2016 but has since fallen down into the Under-21 squad due to a lack of pitch time after joining Bayern last summer.

He remains highly rated around Europe, attracting interest from the likes of AC Milan and Manchester United, and looks set to be made available for loan before the window closes.

Sanches only made six starts in the Bundesliga last season (Picture: Getty)

And now Kicker are reporting that Liverpool have joined the list of suitors for Sanches and are set to step up their recruitment drive after successfully qualifying for the Champions League group stage proper.

So far Jurgen Klopp has only brought in three new faces, Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson, and wants further recruits.

Bayern – who are well stocked in central midfield – are actively looking to offload Sanches as he is unlikely to receive the game time he wants this season, with a loan deal the most likely escape route.

Liverpool have been in the market for a new central midfielder, making RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita a priority target, and Sanches could be an astute alternative.

Liverpool could not negotiate a deal with Leipzig for Keita, so could sign Sanches instead (Getty)

United boss Mourinho has previously tried to sign Sanches – who he shares an agent, Jorge Mendes, with – and spoke about him last season, though opted to sign Nemanja Matic this summer.

‘We want the young boys to play and to perform’ he said in April. ‘At the same time, the best teams want to win and it is difficult to win with the learning curve of the young boys.

Mourinho has long been linked with a move for compatriot Sanches (Picture: Getty)

‘You go to other clubs where young players are being developed. It’s easy when there is no pressure playing in mid-table where you can win today, lose tomorrow. It’s different at big clubs.

‘There is a Portuguese kid, Renato Sanches, who is a European champion. But he doesn’t play in Bayern Munich.

‘The last match he played, they lost to Hoffenheim. Will he play in the Champions League quarter-finals? I have my doubts. You know, there are contradictions in all of us.’

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