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Both Kicker and Portuguese outlet A Bola report that Bayern Munich are currently assessing a loan that would move 20-year-old midfielder Renato Sanches back to his home club after unsuccessful stints at Bayern Munich and a failed loan to Swansea City this past season.
Sanches made Benfica’s first team in 2014/15 and followed up that success with an outstanding performance at the 2016 UEFA Euro, which Portugal won, that saw Sanches receive the “Golden Boy” award as the most promising youth player. On the strength of those performances, Bayern Munich paid Benfica €35 million plus bonuses, but Sanches has disappointed ever since his transfer out of Portugal.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently suggested that Sanches would be part of the Bayern team that incoming coach Niko Kovac would manage: “He’s coming back. Niko Kovac will try to restore him to his former strength. It’s an exciting task.” The latest reports may indicate a change of plans—not all that surprising, given the sheer number of talented midfielders ahead of Sanches, even allowing one or two departures.