Manchester City have reportedly already made contact with Sporting Lisbon as they look to steal a march in the race for teenage left-back Nuno Mendes.
The 18-year-old, who can also play in midfield, has taken no time at all to establish himself as Ruben Amorim's first-choice left back, making 25 appearances and banking one goal and two assists in all competitions this term.
Mendes's performances have understandably attracted interest from top European clubs, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid all believed to be keeping a close eye on his development.
However, AS claims that Man City are desperate to win the race for his services, and Pep Guardiola urged the club to touch base with Sporting over a proposed deal.
Mendes is contracted to the Portuguese giants until the end of the 2024-25 campaign after extending his deal in December, and with several European powerhouses expected to battle it out for his signature, Sporting can afford to play hardball over a fee.
The youngster has also made four appearances for the Portugal Under-21s team, and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has supposedly identified him as the man to fill Marcelo's boots at the Bernabeu.
Ben Knapton
