Renato Sanches’ agent wants the midfielder to move on from Lille quickly, but he’d prefer him to join AC Milan over the alternatives.

Arsenal have been linked with Renato Sanches this year, but Calciomercato report that AC Milan are leading the race for the player right now.

The Italian outlet claim Milan are evaluating the feasibility of a January move, and they know Lille don’t want to lose the player mid-season.

But Jorge Mendes wants his client to move on as soon as possible, and he sees Milan are the most suitable club. Lille are looking for around €35m, and Milan will make an attempt in the coming days.

Speaking to the media this week, Sanches himself responded to the reports of interest in him from Arsenal and others.

The Lille midfielder admits he’s in contact with his agent over outside interest, and he’s ready if and when a club makes a move for him.

“Maybe Milan and Arsenal are interested but I don’t know,” Sanches said.

“I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling and which are not, but I can’t tell now. But I know I’m ready. If an offer comes in, I’ll find out what’s best for me.”

Over the summer, the Daily Mail reported that Sanches was a target for Arsenal.

That followed a similar claim from France, that Arsenal and Liverpool were both ‘very interested’ in the player.

The 23-year-old has been with Lille since 2019, so he spent a season with Gabriel Magalhaes before the defender moved onto Arsenal. Or at least the best part of a season, before the campaign was cut short early by the pandemic.

Gabriel fueled the rumours over the summer by commenting “come to Arsenal” on a Sanches Instagram post, to which Sanches responded, “I’m [waiting] for your invitation”.

Since then, Le10Sport have reported this month that Arsenal remain interested in Sanches, but they’re yet to make an offer.

The outlet suggests AC Milan and Arsenal are the two clubs most active in pushing for the 24-year-old, but only Milan have formalised their interest.