Newcastle United have shown an interest in Sporting Lisbon superkid Nuno Mendes while Leicester City will make a move if the price is right, according to the Daily Mail.
Every talented teenager emerging through one of Europe’s most prosperous academies has to put up with inevitable comparisons to a young Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Gelson Martins or Rafael Leao.
But 18-year-old Mendes is taking everything in his stride.
Only 16 games into his Primeira Liga career, the Portugal U21 international is already at the centre of a tug-of-war involving some of the biggest clubs in European football.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked recently, while the Mail backs up reports from Portugal suggesting Leicester could be tempted to pay a sizeable sum for another talented teenager, perhaps inspired by the remarkable impact Wesley Fofana has made under Brendan Rodgers.
And, for the first time, Newcastle have emerged as another potential destination.
Steve Bruce may prefer players with Premier League experience but, as long as Mike Ashley is pulling the strings, the Magpies will always be in the market for youngsters with vast potential and substantial re-sale value.
Mendes has a £40 million release clause in his contract but Sporting, after being hit hard by the financial crisis, may be willing to accept a reduced fee.
The Primeira Liga leaders have tried to tie their prized asset down to a new, long-term deal.
But, according to CM Jornal, Mendes is reluctant to put pen to paper due largely to the fact Sporting want to raise his release clause to somewhere in the region of £90 million.
The left-back understandably feels this would scupper his chances of a move to a major European league.
“Nuno Mendes is dazzling,” Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas told Record.
“I have no doubt Nuno Mendes will be the future left-back of the (Portuguese) national team. We have players of unbelievable talent (at Sporting).”
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