Manchester United are chasing Sporting Lisbon left back Nuno Mendes - after a recommendation from Nani.

Mendes, 17, a quick, attacking full back with good dribbling skills, is regarded as one of the pearls of Portugal.

He initially came up in talks between the two clubs when United signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting but was ultimately not included in the deal.

Now, United are back in for him with a package worth over £10m being discussed, and the player keen to move.

Mendes is out of contract in 2021 and has refused to sign the new two-year offer Sporting made him because he wants to explore his options.

Nuno Mendes is one of the brightest young talents at Sporting

A Portugal Under 19 international, Mendes is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the country and United see him as one for the future.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also given a glowing reference about him from former United and Sporting winger Nani.

Mendes currently plays in Sporting’s youth team but regularly trains with the seniors and has made a big impression.

Nuno Mendes during the Pre Season friendly against Liverpool

He also has teams in Spain and Italy pursuing him but United are believed to be favourites to sign him if he leaves Lisbon.

Meanwhile, United favourite has been reliving his time at United recently.

And he claims part of Sir Alex Ferguson ’s success was built around the mentality of the team and the challenges they faced from each other.

“What I learned was what happened on the field stayed on the field. Outside is another life, another thing,” he told the UTD podcast .

Nani has recommended Sporting left-back Nuno Mendes

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“We as a team used to fight a lot in training. Not fight like (punches) but challenge hard – someone would say he didn’t like it. He’d say, ‘Come on, what are you doing’ and it was close to a fight.

“Others would separate them and, from there, you’d go to the gym or inside to the facility, it’s gone.

"But that’s why we were champions, the hardest team to beat.”