Manchester United are reportedly considering a summer move for Nuno Mendes, who has a €70 million release clause in his deal with Sporting Lisbon.
According to a report by Portuguese publication A Bola, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United are weighing up a shock swoop for Nuno Mendes. The 19-year-old Portuguese whizkid, who has also been linked with Manchester City in the summer transfer window, has a €70 million exit clause in his contract with Sporting Lisbon.
Nuno Mendes has made quite a splash since breaking into the Sporting Lisbon first-team setup in the second half of the 2019/20 season. A member of the Portuguese outfit since 2012, the teenage prodigy has made remarkable progress since making his bow at the club, making 44 appearances to date while chipping in with a goal and two assists.
His development has also helped Mendes establish a foothold in the Portuguese national side, and he was also a part of the UEFA Euro 2020 squad this summer. At the same time, the 19-year-old has also captured the attention of some of the biggest clubs in the world, with Manchester United currently among those weighing up a summer move for the whizkid.
The interest from Manchester United is extremely surprising, despite what the report by A Bola (h/t Sport Witness) claims. It has been suggested that Manchester United are thinking about making a move for Mendes in the wake of the injury suffered by Alex Telles during a pre-training session.
The injury sustained by Telles, though, is only likely to render the Brazilian unavailable for the first month of the season. Post that, Telles ought to be at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s disposal, with Luke Shaw being the first-choice left-back for Manchester United anyway.
Therefore, it is unclear how Mendes would fit in the scheme of things if signed by Manchester United this summer, especially considering an outlay close to €70 million will be required to land him. Instead, a move to Manchester City would be more prudent for both the player and the club.
The reigning Premier League champions have indeed been heavily linked with the 19-year-old despite recent suggestions that that is not the case. Having said that, it will be interesting to see if Manchester United instead launch the offensive for Mendes by paying close to €70 million for him, and it also remains to be seen if the Portuguese whizkid himself is open to a summer switch to Old Trafford.
With Shaw, Telles and Williams already available to United, there is no way they will bring in another left back, certainly for £50, million, when there are greater needs.