Manchester United meet Jorge Mendes over possible Geovany Quenda transfer

Manchester United have met with Jorge Mendes about the potential signing of Sporting winger Geovany Quenda.

Mendes's Gestifute agency is negotiating on behalf of the 17-year-old Quenda's agent Igor Campedelli. United have been tracking Quenda since he made his debut for Sporting in August. A separate source says Mendes has bought half of Quenda's image rights.

United have still not made a formal offer for Quenda but figures at Sporting expect the club to move for the Portugal international next year.

Mendes has a long-standing relationship with United dating back to Cristiano Ronaldo's first spell at the club in the 2000s. Mendes represented David de Gea for the majority of his 12 years at United, helped instigate Bruno Fernandes's transfer to United in 2020 and oversaw Ronaldo's return to the club in 2021.

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United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward hugged Mendes when he saw him in the directors' box before Ronaldo's second debut against Newcastle United.

Paris Saint-Germain have also expressed interest in Quenda. PSG have changed their recruitment strategy to focus on younger targets with potential to develop into superstars. Manchester City, Liverpool and RB Leipzig have also enquired about Quenda.

Mendes is scheduled to hold more meetings with clubs in the coming weeks to determine the most suitable move for Quenda, who now seems certain to leave Sporting next year.

Quenda is under contract at Sporting until 2027 but he has come to prominence since the Manchester Evening News revealed United's interest earlier this month.

He had a key role in Sporting's 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City in the Champions League three weeks ago and Quenda was named on the bench for Portugal's Nations League draw with Croatia last week.

Born in Guinea-Bissau, Quenda has only made 20 appearances for Sporting and Portuguese sources have likened his talent and work ethic to Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.

Quenda, previously in Benfica's academy until he switched to Sporting's at the age of 12, was named in the club's matchday squad by Ruben Amorim as a 16-year-old last year.

He became the club's youngest league scorer against Famalicão last month, beating Cristiano Ronaldo's record, and is Sporting's youngest player to start in the Champions League.