Manchester United have reportedly made Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes one of their top targets to sign under new manager Ruben Amorim, potentially reuniting the two after their time together in Portugal.
Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon last month and instantly implemented his 3-4-3 system that worked wonders with the Portuguese champions.
Many pundits have observed that the current Man United squad is not suited to the new system though, meaning many new faces could come through the door at Old Trafford over the next two transfer windows.
Left wing-back is one of the most glaring areas that needs improvement, mainly due to the injury problems suffered by both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia over the past few years.
Diogo Dalot, naturally a right-sided player has played on the left almost all season, but Amorim would seemingly prefer to have a naturally left-footed player on that flank instead.
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INEOS looking to back Amorim in the transfer market?
That has drummed up rumours that the club will enter the market for Mendes as soon as possible, with his contract at PSG running down.
Mendes's deal in the French capital will expire in 18 months' time, and Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany claims that he is reluctant to sign an extension due to the interest in him.
Amorim and Mendes also have the agency team around them, potentially making a move much more likely and smoother to complete.
Alphonso Davies was the player that many thought would be snapped up by another European giant this January, but he looks set to sign an extension with Bayern Munich, forcing Man United, among others, to look elsewhere.
AC Milan's Theo Hernandez is another name that has been thrown into the ring, which would also be a huge statement of intent from the Man United ownership in showing that they will back the new manager.
What would Mendes bring to Old Trafford?
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In what has been a difficult campaign for PSG, especially in the Champions League, Mendes has been one of their top performers.
The left-back netted one of the goals in the crucial win over Red Bull Salzburg last week, which gives the French champions a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Mendes also assisted the own goal that earned them their only other win on the continent so far this season, on matchday one against Girona.
With blistering pace, an incredible engine, pinpoint deliveries and an eye for goal, he ticks all the boxes that Amorim would look for in a wing-back, despite largely being deployed as a standard left-back at PSG.
Amorim was also Mendes's manager in the player's final season at Sporting in the 2020-21 campaign, just before he earned his big-money move to Ligue 1, where he has flourished, and since become a regular Portugal international.
Andrew Delaney
