Premier League trio Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have reportedly placed emphasis on signing Sporting Lisbon starlet Nuno Mendes, according to Calciomercato.

The 18-year-old defender broke into the Sporting first team last season, having played final nine games of the campaign.

The report claims that the teenager’s emergence has caught the attention of a number of Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal.

Liverpool and United are well stocked for options in the full-back, while the Gunners are not short of options in that area of the pitch too, but all three are still considering a move for the Portugal U21 international.

A sticking point could be Mendes’ price tag with the Portuguese giants unwilling to consider anything below his €45m release clause.

Mendes, who is currently contracted at the club until 2025, has featured primarily as a left wing-back but is also capable of playing in central defence.