Renato Sanches has been labelled as the best Portuguese player since Cristiano Ronaldo by Diario de Noticias football writer Goncalo Lopes.

Lopes told Daily Mail that Manchester United target Sanches plays similar to his idol Clarence Seedorf and also has the potential to be as good as Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo.

The 18-year-old Benfica youngster has been linked with a £46.6million move to Old Trafford, and Lopes believes that he's worth the risk.

"The question on everyone's lips at the moment is: Can Renato Sanches play for a team such as Manchester United? And the answer is yes, no doubt about it," he said.

"I believe we are talking about a young Portuguese starlet with the most potential since Cristiano Ronaldo. However, it is necessary to know how he will exploit all of his qualities.

"It is too early to say whether he is worth £46.6million, of course - nobody knows. But he is worth the risk. Who knew Anthony Martial would be worth what Manchester United paid for him last summer?

"Of Sanches, we are talking about a young man of 18 who has changed a team such as Benfica and influences the entire game. A player similar to Clarence Seedorf at his best, with the former Dutch player in fact being his idol."