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Manchester City unlikely to sign Sporting Lisbon starlet this summer

By Rohan Sengupta

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on October 24, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paul Childs - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on October 24, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paul Childs - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that Manchester City were monitoring Sporting Lisbon left-back Nuno Mendes.

Nuno Mendes, 19, has established himself as one of the best left-backs across Europe in a very short span of time. The teenager starred for Sporting Lisbon last term, racking up a goal and an assist in 29 games as Ruben Amorim’s side won the Primeira Liga and the Taca de Liga.

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The defender was part of the Sporting Lisbon side that boasted of the best defensive record in the Liga NOS, conceding only 20 goals in 34 games.

Mendes’ eye-catching displays for Sporting saw him being rewarded with a call up to the Portugal squad for the ongoing Euro 2020.

Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants to freshen up his squad this summer with a couple of high-profile signings. The Sky Blues once again fell short in their aspirations to win the coveted Champions League trophy, losing 1-0 to Chelsea in the finale in Portugal.

While City did run away with the Premier League title in the end after gaining some momentum in the second half of the season and also won the Carabao Cup, Guardiola still has a couple of areas in the squad that needs strengthening to win the Champions League.

Guardiola is keen on bolstering the left-back position having failed to find a reliable performer in the last couple of years.

Benjamin Mendy arrived at Manchester City from AS Monaco in 2017 with a lot of fanfare but has failed to live up to the lofty expectations, primarily due to recurring injury problems, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo remain makeshift left-backs in the squad.

Thus, the Cityzens’ interest in Nuno Mendes makes complete sense. However, according to the latest report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, as translated by Sport Witness, City have reached an ‘impasse’ in their pursuit of the player with no concrete offers so far, and the process being ‘frozen’.

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For some time now City have been frontrunners for Mendes, whose current deal contains a €70m release clause. While Sporting are willing to sell Mendes for over €55m, the report adds that no bid has been made by City so far. Therefore, Sporting are planning for next season under the supposition that the 19-year-old Portuguese international will stay at the club.

With Guardiola’s eyes fixed on Harry Kane and Jack Grealish this summer, it appears like City will postpone the signing of Mendes to next year.

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