Sporting have decided to allow for some flexibility in their asking price of reported Liverpool target Goncalo Inacio.
Inacio has been claimed as one of the leading contenders in Liverpool’s hunt for a new centre-back this summer. And according to A Bola, that remains very much the case.
They claim that the Reds are one of a number of clubs who have ‘long’ followed the 21-year-old’s progression. Other clubs in England and Italy are reportedly admirers, too. But with no others named, Liverpool appear to be one of the most interested.
Should they wish to follow up on that interest, the Reds would have to pay Inacio’s £39m release clause. A Bola report that Sporting are still trying to sign the defender up to a new contract, with an increased clause of between £52m and £69m. But they’ve had no luck so far.
Picking up the story from A Bola’s print edition, Sport Witness report that given his refusal to sign a new deal, Sporting are now willing to compromise on Inacio’s asking price. They’ll reportedly still want the full £39m, but it’s claimed that they’ll now accept a lower up-front fee with ‘easily attainable’ bonuses. A breakthrough of sorts, then.
Liverpool looking for Inacio bargain
This might not sound like much, but it might actually be incredibly important to Liverpool. They’re well-known to always look for the best deals in terms of up-front payments.
Soon to be without the influx of cash that Champions League football brings, this may become even more prevalent in the upcoming window.
In regards to Inacio specifically, we don’t think the £39m price looks too bad anyway. For a 21-year-old with the experience and quality that he has, you maybe won’t find a better deal in all of Europe.
But still, without that extra bit of TV money, every little helps for Liverpool this summer.
As they focus primarily on midfield signings, they probably won’t want to spend big on an extra defender. So, any defender on their short list that they’re able to negotiate money off on instantly becomes more attractive.
From Sporting’s point of view, we’re not sure exactly how this arrangement would help. They don’t seem to be struggling to find a buyer for Inacio. One of the interested clubs would surely pay full whack up-front.
But sometimes, it pays to have a good relationship with a club like Liverpool. Porto found that out when dealing with the Reds for Luis Diaz. On that occasion, Liverpool agreed to pay a fee early in order to wipe out outstanding UEFA fines. You never know when you might want to pull in a favour. Here’s one way of currying them.