A defender reportedly on the radar of Championship trio Sheffield United, Southampton and Birmingham City is on the verge of completing a transfer to the tune of just £1.3 million.
But England’s second tier, it seems, will not be his destination.
Ambitious Birmingham City snapped up Celtic icon Kyogo Furuhashi last week, arguably the most eye-catching addition of the summer window so far in the Championship. Demarai Gray has also returned to St Andrews after a spell in Saudi Arabia, while Kanya Fujimoto adds to a growing collection of East Asian talent in the Second City.
Southampton signed striker Damion Downs from Cologne on Wednesday. USA international Downs is their second signing of the Will Still era, and their second to arrive from Germany after ex-Hoffenheim defender Joshua Quarshie.
Sheffield United could bring in Mihail Polendakov, meanwhile; potentially their second new face from Bulgarian football after Ehije Ukaki.
Do not be surprised if The Blades step up their pursuit of Septembri Sofia starlet Polendakov either. Because, after links with Southampton and Birmingham City as well as last season’s beaten play-off finalists, Joe Mendes is set to take his touchline-treading talents to Turkey instead.
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty ImagesJoe Mendes is not joining Birmingham City, Southampton or Sheffield United
Swedish publication Expressen reported a week ago that no fewer than five clubs were holding discussions around Braga wideman Joe Mendes. Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin had had talks, alongside three of the Championship’s pre-season promotion favourites.
The fifth club, meanwhile, were Turkish outfit Samsunspor.
The club whose president, Yuksel Yildirim, has now taken to social media to confirm that Mendes is instead on his way to join a side who finished third behind Galatasaray and Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Super Lig table last season.
“Good news keeps coming [for] Samsunspor fans,” Yildirim wrote on X. “As of now, we have reached an agreement with Joe Mendes on all matters.
“Congratulations! The 60th anniversary gifts keep coming one by one.”
In their diamond jubilee year, Samsunspor are looking to continue their remarkable recent rise under Yildirim. From second-tier champions in 2023 to a podium finish in the Super Lig just 24 months later.
Mendes, capped once by Sweden, is set to join for a fee of just £1.3 million. He spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at FC Basel, and will now be allowed to leave a Braga outfit boasting one of the best young right-backs on the continent in Roger Fernandes.
Birmingham land Bright Osayi-Samuel as Southampton chase right-backs
Birmingham City, back in the Championship and determined to become a Premier League team again sooner rather than later, may look to take a leaf out of Samsunspor’s sudden emergence as a force to be reckoned with in Turkish football.
Missing out on Mendes should not prove too much of a setback though.
Birmingham brought ex-QPR ace Bright Osayi-Samuel to St Andrews last week, after all, following a spell of his own on Turkish soil. Osayi-Samuel left England as a flying winger and returns, half a decade later, as a swashbuckling right-back.
Sheffield United have their sights set on Polendakov; another data-driven target.
Southampton are reportedly targeting Scotland youngster Max Johnston of Sturm Graz, meanwhile, alongside Orlando City ace Alex Freeman.
Former St Mary’s boss Mauricio Pochettino is a huge Freeman man, having coached both he and the aforementioned Damion Downs for the USA national team.