Liverpool are stepping up their interest in Sporting Lisbon starlet Nuno Mendes in the knowledge that bitter rivals Manchester United are closing in on the coveted teenager, according to A Bola.
While the present looks brighter than at any point over the last 30 years at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Edwards and co are hard at work to ensure that the Premier League leaders do not slip back into the shadows again in the near future.
In Harvey Elliott and Sepp Van der Berg, Liverpool snapped up two of Europe’s most highly-rated youngsters last summer and it seems that they have similar plans in place for when the transfer window creaks open once again.
At 17, Mendes is yet to force his way into the Sporting Lisbon starting XI. But the club who gave us Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Nani and many more are already set to lose another fresh-faced academy graduate with the vultures circling above.
According to A Bola, Liverpool know full well that Manchester United have good relations with Sporting Lisbon, having signed Bruno Fernandes from the Lions as recently as January.
That is exactly why the Reds have slammed their foot onto the accelerator. The report claims that Liverpool could even be tempted to offer around £18 million, a staggering sum for a 17-year-old who has not even made his senior debut.
Interestingly, Mendes’s best position is at left-back – an area of Klopp’s star-studded squad where Liverpool are perhaps a little short of quality and quantity.
Is Mendes ready to provide support for Andy Robertson? In the eyes of Klopp, age is but a number and, if he has the talent and the attitude, then a first-team berth at Anfield will not be out of reach.
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