Rio Ferdinand was really impressed by Liverpool-linked £21.4m player last night

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Rio Ferdinand has praised reported Liverpool target Renato Sanches on BBC One (8:57pm, June 23, 2021).

The former Manchester United defender was impressed by the performance of Sanches for Portugal against France at the Euro 2020 finals last night.

Former Chelsea midfielder and manager Frank Lampard also praised the 23-year-old Portugal international midfielder.

Liverpool interest

Well-known and well-respected journalist Fabrizio Romano first reported interest from Liverpool in Sanches on CBS Sports in February 2021.

The former Premier League champions are reportedly looking at the Lille midfielder as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum.

Calciomercato subsequently reported that the 23-year-old midfielder is destined to join Liverpool, as we covered here on HITC Sport.

What’s been said

Ferdinand said about Sanches on BBC One (8:57pm, June 23, 2021).: “His tenacity that he has brought to the midfield has been something that they were going to do to combat the likes of Pogba and Kante, and I think he has been up there with Moutinho a lot of it, also Bernardo Silva, but he has been standout for me, his energy as well.”

Lampard said about Sanches on BBC One (8:57pm, June 23, 2021): “He has brought energy, he has brought physicality, he is happy to put his body in. He looks like a player to me who has probably been training well behind the scenes.”

Renato Sanches played well

Cristiano Ronaldo scored both the goals for Portugal, but it was Sanches who was the star in the middle of the park.

The 23-year-old – who cost Lille €25 million (£21.42 million) in transfer fees, according to AS – matched Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante in midfield and played some lovely passes from deep.

The former Swansea City loanee held his own in the middle of the park and was a force to be reckoned with.

Sanches took one shot which ended on target, played one key pass, had a pass accuracy of 93.2%, took 95 touches, attempted three dribbles, made three tackles and one interception, and put in one cross.