Pranav Nair
Manchester United to battle Liverpool for the signature of Nuno Mendes
According to Italian outlet CalcioMercato (h/t The Express), Manchester United will face off against Liverpool and Arsenal for Portuguese wonderkid Nuno Mendes.
The 18-year-old left-back has already made 11 first-team appearances for Sporting Lisbon. He also scored his first professional goal in the Primeira Liga earlier this month.
Left-back is a position that both Liverpool and United have strengthened this summer. The Red Devils brought in Alex Telles while the Merseysiders signed Kostas Tsimikas.
According to the report, Sporting are aware of the interest Mendes is attracting. They are unwilling to accept an offer lower than his release clause, currently set at £40.8m.
The youngster still has five years to go on his deal at Sporting. This gives the Portuguese giants enough leeway when it comes to negotiations.
Mendes has also drawn interest from Italian giants AC Milan. He has the potential to be a leading left-back in the years to come, provided he develops as expected.
United have a good relationship with Sporting, having brought a number of players from them over the years. The latest recruit was the impressive Bruno Fernandes.
The pair were together at Sporting during last summer’s pre-season tour of America. The duo was a part of the squad which drew 2-2 with Liverpool at the Yankee Stadium.
It remains to be seen if United will employ Fernandes in a charm offensive to attract Mendes to Old Trafford.
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United have landed some of the best young talents in football in recent windows. Adding Mendes will bolster what is a generation of young talents coming through the ranks at the club.
