Renato Sanches approached over shock Premier League return after PSG contract ripped up

Renato Sanches was approached by Chelsea over a shock Premier League return after the transfer deadline, it has been reported.

Sanches has been a free agent since September 1, when his Paris Saint-Germain contract was terminated to allow him to find another club.

The Portugal midfielder, 29, spent last season on loan at Greek giants Panathinaikos, and was deemed surplus to requirements upon his return to Luis Enrique's side.

According to Foot Mercato, one of the clubs interested in signing Sanches as a free agent was Chelsea, with their manager Xabi Alonso believed to have personally contacted him.

However, it is claimed that, after giving the move due consideration, Alonso decided against adding to his current squad - though the situation could change in January if Sanches is still unattached. Chelsea have named a 20-man Premier League squad, so can add to it without restriction if they wish.

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Why Chelsea approached Renato Sanches

Alonso was team-mates with Sanches during the pair's time at Bayern Munich, with the Portuguese considered one of the top young talents in world football at that stage of his career. Sanches had an unsuccessful loan spell in the Premier League with Swansea during the 2017/18 campaign, and has since played for Lille, Roma and Benfica.

The Blues were left a midfielder light on deadline day following their decision to allow Enzo Fernandez to join Manchester City for a staggering fee of £125 million.

They agreed a deal to sign Lamine Camara from AS Monaco as his replacement, but the Ligue 1 club pulled the plug on the move to focus on selling Folarin Balogun to Everton instead.

When that deal fell through, there was insufficient time for Camara to join Chelsea and he will stay at Monaco until at least January.

Foot Mercato previously reported that, in response, the Blues made contact over a move for former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. Like Sanches, Wijnaldum is also currently a free agent after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq in June.

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The 36-year-old would have fit the bill for Alonso in terms of adding more experience to his squad, with Chelsea having signed Danny Welbeck, 35, and Jordan Henderson, 36, during the summer.

But Wijnaldum is reported to be closing in on a move to fellow Saudi club Al Ittihad on an initial one-year contract.

Chelsea's midfield options profiled

While Chelsea may be a player light in midfield, they still have a number of enviable options that can play there.

Alonso started with a two-man midfield in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, with Reece James lining up alongside the fit-again Romeo Lavia.

Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson are out of action with injury, while new summer signing Valentin Barco can also operate centrally as well as at left-back.

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Caicedo missed Chelsea's opening 3-2 win with Fulham over a knock, before being replaced after just 14 minutes of his substitute appearance against Brighton after he felt pain.

"We talk about assessing the risk," Alonso said before the Arsenal clash. "Probably last week, we took him too early, and I don't want to make the same mistake."