According to O Jogo, as cited by Football.London, Arsenal are interested in the services of Nuno Mendes. The Gunners are exploring the possibility of signing the Sporting CP youngster but could face stiff competition from Serie A giants AC Milan. The Rossoneri have already told Sporting that they are willing to pay €15 million to sign Mendes this summer.
Who is Nuno Mendes?
A product of the famed Sporting academy, Mendes has been a part of the club’s youth setup since an early age. He hasn’t disappointed either, with his consistent performances in the youth competitions handing him a promotion to the club’s reserve side last summer at the age of 17.
That wasn’t the end of the road for Mendes, however. The young fullback then went on to make nine senior appearances for Sporting CP this past season, raising quite a lot of eyebrows.
As a result, the 18-year-old was finally promoted to the senior side this summer and is tipped to receive a prominent role in the first-team in the upcoming season.
Mendes has also been a regular with the Portuguese international youth teams, as he is officially now part of the U-21 side, which is indicative of his talent and quality.
What can he bring to the table?
A left-back by trade, Mendes is a marauding fullback who is primarily known for his pace and stamina. He is an excellent athlete, with his speed and willingness to march forward making him a vicious counter-attacking weapon.
The 18-year-old is also blessed with clever footwork that allows him to manipulate opposing defenders while his impressive passing technique becomes useful when rotating possession.
Another key feature in Mendes’ game is the imposing 1.84m frame that gives him a considerable advantage in aerial and physical duels, though the fullback primarily relies on his pace to provide support from the wider defensive role.
Should Arsenal make a move for Mendes?
Mendes’ style of play can be compared with Arsenal’s very own Ainsley Maitland-Niles. So essentially, whether or not the Gunners can make a move for the Portuguese youngster will depend on the future of their academy product.
Indeed, Maitland-Niles has already been linked with a move elsewhere this summer, with Wolves, in particular, desperate to sign him as a replacement for Matt Doherty. His potential departure from Emirates should create a void in the fullback department, especially with Sead Kolasinac also struggling.
That could open up a prospect for Arsenal to pursue Mendes. Although AC Milan are admittedly ahead in the race to sign the Sporting CP youngster, the Gunners could emerge as an appealing destination as well.
Mendes has the athleticism, discipline, as well as the technique necessary to thrive under Mikel Arteta and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 18-year-old this summer.
