According to The Times, Huddersfield Town have joined the race to sign Thiago Mendes. The Terriers are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals in West Ham United and Newcastle United for the services of the LOSC Lille midfielder.
It is reported that Town have already lodged an inquiry regarding the highly talented midfielder and have learned that he is valued at around £18 million. However, they could face stiff competition from both the aforementioned Premier League clubs with Bundesliga and Serie A clubs also vying for his signature.
Thiago Mendes, 26, has attracted a lot of interest across Europe and a big money move could be on the cards this window. He spent last season with LOSC Lille after initially making a £8.10 million move from Sao Paulo last summer.
Since arriving in France, the 26-year-old has quickly managed to establish himself as a first-team regular at Lille. He featured in 31 league matches last campaign as Les Dogues finished in the top half of the table. His impressive performances made him one of the standout players for the club.
Huddersfield, on the other hand, have been very active in the transfer market this summer, having secured the services of no less than eight players. However, aside from signing Juninho Bacuna, the Terriers haven’t yet managed to bolster their midfield.
Defensive midfielder Danny Williams has struggled with injuries and is not a reliable option in that position, meaning they could well use the services of someone like Thiago Mendes. The Brazilian, who is generally identified a central midfielder can easily operate as a CDM.
What makes him such an appealing target for Huddersfield is his ability to switch the play. The midfielder is blessed with great vision which helps him find long passes in and around the middle third of the pitch. He can also drive forward into the opposition half with pace while his long-range shooting abilities are just as good.
Another asset which makes him a top-notch midfielder is his ability to stop certain counter attacks with accurate tackles and impeccable positioning, making him a perfect fit for David Wagner’s Huddersfield.
That being said, it’s very likely that the Terriers would find it difficult to secure his services, bearing in mind that they have already flushed a lot of cash this summer. In addition, Thiago Mendes is likely to cost a fortune thanks to his long-term contract with Lille and with the likes of West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace reportedly being interested in his services, it’s unlikely that they will able to land his signature this summer.
