‘Amazing’ player turned down Newcastle last year as he knows Liverpool’s interest is growing

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Liverpool were given a transfer boost without even realising it at the time last year.

While the Reds’ topic of recruitment was all about the midfield in 2023, 2024 seems set to be focused on the defence.

With that in mind, we’ve seen a number of players linked with a move to Anfield in recent times. Perhaps the most continual of these links has been to Sporting centre-back Gonaclo Inacio.

But according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Liverpool almost lost the chance to take a run at Inacio. They claim that Newcastle actually tried to sign the 22-year-old ‘a year ago’.

However, with Sporting said to be completely opposed to a sale at the time, nothing ever became of it. That reportedly wasn’t the only reason the transfer didn’t go through, though.

It’s claimed that Inacio was also uninterested in joining the Magpies, as he became aware of ‘growing interest’ from Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid. The Portugal international is said to be keen to join a project that can win trophies once he eventually leaves Lisbon.

Inacio waiting on Liverpool

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool solidify their interest in Inacio over the next six months. But having rumbled on for a while now, it feels like that’s the timeframe for this one to be sorted in.

Sporting perhaps know that they can’t keep hold of their academy graduate beyond the summer window.

There had been claims that a January exit for Inacio was a possibility. Liverpool themselves were at one stage said to be ‘accelerating’ a move for the centre-back following injury to Kostas Tsimikas in December.

Although there’s still time in that sense, it doesn’t look especially lively on that front. Instead, all eyes should be on the end of the season to see where Inacio ends up.

There have been reports over recent days that Liverpool also like Sporting’s other promising young defender Ousmane Diomande.

With the Reds running the rule over the 20-year-old, claims have been made that Diomande is a £100m+ player in waiting. Maybe he’d even be an better option than Inacio.

The Portuguese himself has been described as being ‘amazing’ by journalist Fabrizio Romano, though [The Daily Briefing]. He’s obviously a star in the making, too.

Having turned down Newcastle in favour of more notable club, Inacio clearly has the ambition to make it right to the top of the game. If it isn’t at Liverpool, you can bet it’ll be at another of European football’s biggest names.