Liverpool’s Left-Back Plan Unravels After Nuno Mendes Snub

Liverpool’s defensive backline is entering a critical transition period after the club failed to secure a high-profile target during the last summer window. The situation has left the Merseyside club searching for a long-term successor to Andrew Robertson, who defined the left-back position at Anfield for nearly a decade after arriving from Hull City in 2017.

Robertson’s departure on a free transfer prompted sporting director Richard Hughes to pursue Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes. Reports from *The Athletic* said Hughes and Liverpool’s recruitment team viewed the Portuguese international as the ideal player to anchor the left side of the defense, while the club’s leadership believed an agreement was highly feasible.

The move ultimately collapsed when Mendes committed his long-term future to the French champions. His contract extension keeps him at the Parc des Princes until 2029, despite Liverpool’s interest.

Transfermarkt values Mendes at approximately £69 million ($90 million). The 24-year-old has built a reputation as one of the most complete and attack-minded left-backs in world football, with the ability to play as either a traditional left-back or a wing-back. He initially joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan from Sporting CP in 2021, before the French club made the transfer permanent the following year.

Mendes made 40 appearances across all competitions during his most recent campaign, scoring six goals and providing seven assists while helping PSG record seven clean sheets. After adjusting to the pressure of playing in Paris, he became an indispensable member of the squad. His time in the French capital has included five Ligue 1 titles, two Champions League trophies, and several domestic cup victories, while his club performances have cemented his position as an undisputed starter for the Portuguese national team.

Liverpool had to turn to alternative targets late in the summer window and completed the signing of Hungarian international Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth. Kerkez had attracted significant interest across the Premier League after producing high-energy performances on the south coast, but replacing Robertson at Anfield has proved difficult.

His debut campaign was disappointing, and the Hungarian’s defensive struggles have continued into the current season. Liverpool retained Greek international Kostas Tsimikas to provide support and competition after he spent the previous campaign on a season-long loan with Italian Serie A side AS Roma.

Tsimikas, however, represents only a short-term option. The Greek defender is in the final year of his Anfield contract, leaving Liverpool vulnerable to losing another experienced left-back on a free transfer next summer.

With Kerkez still struggling to find consistent form and Tsimikas approaching the end of his tenure, Liverpool’s recruitment department is reportedly preparing to re-enter the transfer market in the coming windows to find a permanent solution to the ongoing defensive puzzle.