Sheffield United, Southampton & Birmingham in transfer hunt for Swedish right-back | OneFootball

Reports in the Swedish media are suggesting that Southampton, Birmingham and Sheffield United are all interested in Braga's Joe Mendes.

Southampton, Birmingham City and Sheffield United are reportedly in the chase the Braga right-back Joe Mendes.

All three clubs are chasing a place in the Premier League next season, but from slightly different positions.

Southampton were relegated from the Premier League and are seeking a quick return, while Sheffield United narrowly lost out in the 2024-25 Championship play-off final to Sunderland and Birmingham have just come up from League One, but have big ambitions for the future.

With only two automatic promotion places available, at least one of these teams will have to make do with the play-offs at best, and there is plenty more competition besides.

As such, squad strengthening remains paramount for all three clubs ahead of the start of the new season.

Sheffield United, Southampton & Birmingham City want Joe Mendes but face European competition

Reports from Swedish outlet Expressen are suggesting that the Blades, Blues and the Saints are taking an interest in right-back Joe Mendes, who spent the 2024-25 season on loan in Switzerland with Basel from his parent club Braga.

They are not alone with their interest in the once-capped Sweden international though, with German outfit Union Berlin and Turkish Super Lig club Samsunspor also keen on the 22-year-old.

Mendes was a part of Basel's Swiss Super League-winning team, playing a key role as starting right-back for the majority of the campaign with 29 league appearances, but he has returned to Portugal with a contract that still has three years to run.

Joe Mendes may be needed more at Sheffield United and Southampton than Birmingham City

The Swedish media report doesn't make any reference to it, but Basel did have an option to purchase Mendes upon completion of this loan spell with them that hasn't been taken up.

According to Braga's statement when they loaned him to them, Basel had "a non-binding purchase clause of 2.2 million euros, to which an additional 300 thousand euros will be added depending on objectives", while Braga would have had a 10 percent sell-on clause.

Basel haven't taken that option up though, and this may give an indication of what the winning bidders for Mendes may have to pay.

It's an amount that should be affordable for all three of the Championship clubs that are expressing an interest in him, but Sheffield United and Southampton may need Mendes more than Birmingham do.

Both the Saints and the Blades have vacancies to fill at right-back, whereas Birmingham are well-stocked after the arrival of Bright Osayi-Samuel, so there's every chance they'll exit the race.