Man Utd and Liverpool joined in Nuno Mendes transfer race by Juventus and AC Milan with 18-year-old starring at Sporting

MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool have reportedly been joined in the race for Sporting’s Nuno Mendes by Juventus and AC Milan.

Portuguese paper A Bola claims the Italian duo are eager to sign the highly-rated left-back, 18, this summer.

Mendes broke into the Sporting XI last season and has so far clocked up 18 games for the Portuguese giants.

United are known to be fans despite splashing out on Alex Telles last summer.

Liverpool were linked with a move for Mendes in December too.

Meanwhile, Arsenal were eager to snap him up in last summer’s transfer window.

And reports added Leicester had also joined the battle after losing Ben Chilwell to Chelsea.

Such was the interest in Mendes that Sporting quickly moved to sign left-back Matheus Reis from Rio Ave in January, ensuring they would not be left short in that position.

And there are now even more clubs in the race with Juventus and Milan eager to bring Mendes to Serie A.

However, the report adds that Sporting have no intention of selling Mendes.

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And the only way he is leaving is if someone meets the staggering £60million release clause in his contract.

That could be enough to deter teams from testing Sporting’s resolve this summer, with Mendes yet to make his senior bow for Portugal either.

However, his potential to reach the top is undoubtedly there, and that could be enough for a team to take a gamble in this summer’s market.