Manchester City are moving for Sporting CP wing-back Nuno Mendes.
The Daily Mail says City have already made initial contact with Mendes' agent, Miguel Pinho, who also represents Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes.
During those talks, City wanted to discover if Sporting are open to selling Mendes this summer but the Portuguese side are only willing to sell if the Premier League champions pay a club-record fee.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas is willing to play hardball and will only let Mendes go if City pay his €70m (£60m) release clause.
But City are thought to be someway off that in terms of their valuation of the player and are planning to offer a total package of €60m (£51.6m).
