‘One to watch’: Sky Sports journo urges Utd fans to keep tabs on their pursuit of wantaway ex-Amorim protegee

Stretty News

·29. Dezember 2024

‘One to watch’: Sky Sports journo urges Utd fans to keep tabs on their pursuit of wantaway ex-Amorim protegee

After learning of his reluctance to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes, Manchester United are waiting in the wings, ready to strike up a deal for Nuno Mendes.

The news was first relayed by French football expert Fabrice Hawkins on Friday evening, who claimed the player’s contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain had reached a ‘standstill’, leaving United on red-alert over the prospect of sanctioning his arrival.

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Mendes’ current terms are due to expire in 2026, and while PSG are said to be ruling out the possibility of a mid-season sale, they’ll be well aware that his value will only decrease the closer it gets to his expiry. As such, they may grow resigned to cash in when he has suitors available.

With that in mind, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg shared a brief update last night, adding that the situation was ‘one to watch in the next weeks’.

Why United will be more inclined to target left-sided Mendes mid-season

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

While INEOS and the cost-cutting Sir Jim Ratcliffe will undoubtedly be reluctant to facilitate any big-money deals this winter, Mendes poses as an ideal successor to the injury-prone Luke Shaw.

Tyrell Malacia is now available – albeit he was omitted from the matchday squad at the Molineux despite being fully fit – but he is not the calibre of left-back a team like United require.

Mendes, 22, played 47 games under Amorim during his time at Sporting Lisbon. The Portugal international then departed for France in May 2022 for a £34 million fee, signing a four-year deal.

He is an integral, nailed-on starter for the Ligue 1 giants, hence wanting his wages to accurately reflect the role he plays. If there’s one team likely to offer a potential signing an over-the-top pay packet to sway them towards a move, it’s United.