Clement uses old pal’s act to steal Sanches
WHEN Paul Clement was unveiled as Swansea’s third boss of last season in January, his only priority was keeping a side devoid of confidence in the Premier League.
But after joining from Bayern Munich, he said he hoped to use his experience of working at some of Europe’s biggest clubs to help strengthen the squad.
Eight months on, another season in the top-flight long since secured and Bayern’s midfield starlet Renato Sanches penned to a season-long loan deal, Clement has landed one of the biggest coups of the window. How has he done it?
Simply, Clement has used his friendship with Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti to good effect. Clement was No2 to Ancelotti in Munich prior to returning to English football and also worked alongside the Italian at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. His contacts and friendship allowed him to move ahead of Chelsea, Liverpool and Monaco and seal a £7million package deal for Sanches, 20, but with no option to buy.
Clement said: “I’m delighted to secure Renato’s services. He is a player I know well having worked with him for six months at Bayern before my own move to Swansea.
“He is one of Europe’s elite young talents who has already achieved a lot for his age, including winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. Having moved from Benfica to Bayern, he has not played as much as he would have liked. But this move to Swansea and the Premier League will provide him with a positive development experience. He is a dynamic, powerful central midfielder who I believe has all the attributes to suit the Premier League.’’
Sanches’ arrival is a big statement by Clement, who also let Fernando Llorente go to Tottenham for £15million and replaced him with former Swans striker Wilfried Bony.
The Ivorian scored 34 goals for the Welsh side, but was unwanted at Manchester City with Pep Guardiola keen to offload his £128,000 weekly wage two years after he went to the Etihad for £28m.
Bony has taken a significant cut in salary to rejoin Swansea, but underwent a medical late last night. Official confirmation of his £12m transfer allowed Swansea to let Llorente – who scored 15 goals last season – move to Spurs.
Elsewhere, Clement opted against signing long-term target Nacer Chadli after refusing to meet West Brom’s £25m valuation, but did add 18-year-old former 1860 Munich goalkeeper Steven Benda to his squad on a three-year deal. PUT YOUR SHIRT ON ME: Swans’ Sanches JURGEN KLOPP finally got his man last night – three years after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain first caught his eye.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose last game for Arsenal came coincidentally in Sunday’s demoralising 4-0 defeat at Anfield, has signed a five-year deal worth a reported £120,000 a week as he completed his £35million move.
For Klopp, the capture of the 24-year-old marks a happy end to a three-year interest in the player, dating back to the Champions League when his Borussia Dortmund side beat Arsenal 2-0.
“He came on as a sub and made a big impact,” said Klopp. “He immediately stood out because of his pace and skills and his attitude in such a big game for a young player.
“I remember him chasing back to make a brilliant challenge on Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the box to save a certain goal.
“We won that game but lost the return match at Arsenal when he started and played well. I think he hit the post.
“Since then I’ve followed him and when I heard it may be possible to sign him I didn’t think twice.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been high on Klopp’s wanted