Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal to battle for £41m Nuno Mendes?

Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly all keeping tabs on Sporting Lisbon youngster Nuno Mendes.

The 18-year-old broke into the Sporting first team after lockdown last season, playing in their final nine games of the campaign.

Mendes has retained his spot at the start of the new season too, featuring four times already in all competitions and scoring his first senior goal last time out.

Calciomercato reports that the left-sided defender's emergence has caught the attention of a number of top clubs across Europe, including Premier League trio Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal.

Liverpool and United both bolstered their left-back ranks during the summer, while Arsenal are well stocked in that area of the pitch too, but all three are still reportedly considering a move for Mendes.

AC Milan are also interested in the teenager, although a sticking point could be his price tag with Sporting unwilling to consider anything below his €45m (£40.9m) release clause.

Mendes, whose contract with the Portuguese outfit does not expire until 2025, has featured mainly as a left wing-back for Sporting but is also capable of playing in central defence.