Manchester City could use Sporting Lisbon’s interest in right-back Pedro Porro to sign Nuno Mendes, according to reports in the Portuguese media.
Porro is currently on loan with Sporting but he could return to the Etihad at the end of the season if the option to sign the Spaniard for €8.5m (£7.25m) is not triggered.
However, if City are interested in signing Mendes, they could use Porro in part exchange so as to reduce the asking price Sporting are demanding for their young left-back.
Mendes signed a new contract back in December, which includes a €70m (£60m) release clause and, while Sporting are not expected to hold out for that amount, they will still demand a significant fee.
Porro’s inclusion in any deal would therefore make the transfer more attractive, and hand City the advantage in negotiations over other clubs. Both Liverpool and Arsenal have also been linked with Mendes in recent months
