Liverpool have been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon left-back Nuno Mendes recently and the Portuguese defender could be the perfect long-term replacement for Andrew Robertson.

What's the word?

According to journalist Bruno Andrade (via Sport Witness), Liverpool remain strongly interested in the 18-year-old, having seen an offer for the youngster rejected during the summer transfer window.

However, with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid also reportedly interested, it seems as if the Reds will face stiff competition for Mendes, who is also currently protected by a €70 million release clause.

Robertson's heir?

Whilst Konstantinos Tsimikas was signed by Liverpool during the summer transfer window, he has struggled to impress on his few appearances thus far and is already 24-years-old, so was perhaps signed as a back up to Robertson rather than the Scottish international's long-term replacement.

After all, the former Hull City man is only 26 himself and has been a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp's side this season despite the arrival of Tsimikas, starting all 17 games in the Premier League and averaging a solid 6.96 rating.

Therefore, whilst Robertson is likely to be a first-team regular at Liverpool for the next five years at least, signing Mendes as his long-term heir could definitely be a sensible move by the club.

The teenager has averaged a superb 7.26 rating across his 12 appearances for Sporting Lisbon in the Liga NOS so far this season and has also appeared twice in the Europa League, meaning he would bring plenty of experience with him to Anfield despite being so young.

Mendes has also featured regularly as a left-midfielder in his career thus far, suggesting that he loves to get forward and can be a threat in the opposition half, which would certainly suit Liverpool's style of play, with both Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold having registered excellent attacking returns in recent seasons.

Therefore, Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards should certainly consider a move for the £10.8 million-rated youngster in the near future, before the likes of United or Madrid snap him up.

And, in other news... Forget Thiago: £80k-p/w LFC star was Klopp's game-changer vs Villa