Liverpool are preparing a move to sign Sporting centre-back Goncalo Inacio during the summer transfer window.
Inacio has emerged as a potential target for the Reds in their hunt to freshen up their defensive options. And according to A Bola, they’re now ready to ‘move forward’ in bringing the 21-year-old to Anfield.
It’s claimed that Liverpool’s interest in Inacio has ‘risen in tone’ after several scouting trips to watch him play. As a result, the Portuguese outlet expect ‘concrete talks’ to start in the coming weeks.
French outlet Le Parisien have also been covering the Reds potential move to sign Inacio. They go further in their assessment, reporting that Liverpool have indeed already begun talks to find out how likely a deal will be to do.
The answer they are claimed to be set to receive is that Sporting will demand the Portugal international’s £39m release clause is paid in full.
Liverpool land on Inacio
For £39m, Inacio would look like the exact kind of signing Liverpool are looking for. Young, left-footed and with huge potential, he could perhaps be the long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.
The presence of a release clause also means that the Reds could get him for even cheaper. As they focus on upgrading their midfield, bringing in a defender for a reasonable price would represent a real success. Especially one as accomplished as Inacio.
Not turning twenty-two until August, he’s already played over 100 times for Sporting and has made his international debut for Portugal, too.
As Liverpool have been shown, making the step-up from Portugal to England doesn’t have to be difficult. Darwin Nunez is taking a little more time to adapt, but Luis Diaz took to the Premier League like a duck to water.
Given that he wouldn’t be expected to be a starter straight away, Inacio would have a bit of a buffer in that respect. But having won a league title already, he’s unlikely to be overawed by the move to Liverpool.
Much more affordable than other reported targets like Josko Gvardiol, this is certainly one to watch.