Rising Paris Saint-Germain star Nuno Mendes is keen on becoming Ruben Amorim’s first major signing at Manchester United after talks over a new deal in the French capital broke down.
United are also keen to bring in the Portuguese wing-back, who worked with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, The i Paper understands.
A deal remains far from being agreed, however, due to the fact the faltering Premier League giants have very little money to spend in the January transfer window, or even next summer.
All is not lost though. Offers for the majority of the current misfiring squad would be entertained, allowing underperforming stars to leave on loan with their salary, or part of it, covered.
United’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) position is not good after £200m was spent, and largely wasted by Erik ten Hag in the summer.
United are struggling to find suitors for several top earners – Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Antony – but loan fees could free up cash, in the eyes of PSR, to spend on desperately needed fresh faces.
And they would need plenty of funds to prize Mendes away from PSG.
The French champions were close to agreeing a new contract to make the 22-year-old one of the “highest paid wing-backs in world football”, sources said, before his agent upped his demands and started making overtures to United.
Talks have stalled and though Mendes is contracted to PSG until 2026 the feeling at the club is that while he has become a key player, they could move on quickly.
United would have to sell or loan out numerous big earners to fund a move, but the man who earned his Sporting debut under Amorim is seen as the perfect fit for a problematic position at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw is again on the sidelines, while Tyrell Malacia has also just returned from a lengthy lay-off and has looked well off the pace.
Diogo Dalot has been forced to play at left wing-back on occasion but is much better suited to the righthand side. Wing-backs are fundamental to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.
There are other “credit facility” options available to United in January – an avenue the club may explore given their poor start to life under Amorim – but that runs the risk of alerting PSR regulators.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/moB5UN6
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