According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Manchester City plan to send Nuno Mendes back to Sporting on loan if they can get a deal done.
It’s claimed that City’s plan to get Mendes signed up includes letting him head back to Portugal for a year, with strong relations emerging between the two clubs.
City have sent defender Pedro Porro on loan to Sporting this season, so they may well trust them to continue developing Mendes next season.
It is something of a surprise to hear that City will loan Mendes out though, as they need a new left back for next season. Instead, Mendes could be away from the Etihad Stadium until at least 2022.
Maybe this is how City think they can pip the competition to Mendes though, especially as the report adds that local rivals Manchester United are keen to sign him.
Eurosport note the loan plans as well as Liverpool’s interest, which has been consistent throughout the season as Record reported that a Reds approach failed back in September.
Liverpool do have two left backs in Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas though, so splashing big money on another one this summer just doesn’t seem likely.
City appear to be the favourites for Mendes, but there’s a chance the 18-year-old left back doesn’t play a game for Pep Guardiola’s men for a while yet.
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