Jurgen Klopp was impressed by the performance of Liverpool target Nuno Mendes during a Sporting Lisbon scouting mission, according to CM Jornal – though the Anfield-linked teenager has just signed a new contract with the Portuguese giants.
Each and every player rising through the ranks at the Estadio Jose Alvalade will have to bear the brunt of some rather weighty expectation.
Some of the finest footballers in Portugal have honed their considerable talents in green and white, from Nani to Luis Figo, Gelson Martins to Joao Moutinho, William Carvalho to, well, a certain Turin-based number seven.
And while Mendes has a long way to go if he is to follow in CR7’s illustrious footsteps, the left-footed teenager is already courting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Planet Earth.
Manchester United have perhaps identified Mendes as the second coming of arguably their greatest footballer of the 21st century.
And, according to CM Jornal, Liverpool watched the 18-year-old in action during Sporting’s 2-0 victory over Tondela on June 18th. Mendes impressed in an attack-minded left wing-back berth, catching the eye of Klopp in the process.
If the rapid rise of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson is anything to go by, Klopp’s ‘heavy-metal football’ could be perfect for a teenager who is just starting to learn his footballing scales.
Liverpool and co might have to be patient, however.
Mendes put pen to paper on a five-year contract on Thursday, with A Bola claiming that Sporting Lisbon have included a £40 million release clause in his contract.
And, as Klopp told Sky last week, Liverpool fans should not expect any mega-money signings this summer.
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