Liverpool have reportedly been tracking Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio for a very long time and could make a move in the near future.
According to Caught Offside’s Fabrizio Romano, the Reds have been actively scouting the Portuguese international for a long time, and Goncalo Inacio could be one of a number of their most in-demand players in the transfer market this summer, alongside other stars such as Viktor Gyokeres and Ousmane Diomande.
Romano discussed the Inacio to Liverpool story with CaughtOffside for the latest edition of his exclusive Daily Briefing column, saying: “Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio is being linked with Liverpool again and it’s been the case for years now – it’s already 2-3 years of these rumours.
“Liverpool have been scouting him multiple times but at the moment there are no talks or contacts, it’s just the same scouting activity that other clubs are doing for Inacio, who is one of the most talented centre-backs around.”
Liverpool could sign Goncalo Inacio to replace Virgil van Dijk
Times are changing at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2023–24 season, and Virgil van Dijk also hinted he could follow the German boss out of the Anfield door.
The Netherlands centre-back is captain of the side and leads by example both on and off the pitch; losing Klopp and Van Dijk in quick succession could have a detrimental impact on Liverpool.
Like most clubs, the Reds like to plan ahead and look at potential replacements for key members before a crisis arises or a person decides it’s time to leave the club. Richard Hughes, who will be starting work as the club’s new sporting director in the summer, will be in charge of shortlisting transfer targets.
With 32-year-old Joel Matip out of contract this summer, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq are expected to make him an offer, Liverpool are set to enter the transfer market in search of a new defender this summer, with recent links to Fulham’s soon-to-be free agent Tosin Adarabioyo.
Inacio fits the profile as far as a creative, heavily involved in the build-up, type of versatile centre-half is concerned, although his lack of aerial dominance could be one drawback.
Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is among the list of potential candidates to replace Klopp at Liverpool, and should that happen, a move for the 22-year-old defender wouldn’t come as a surprise.
The pair clearly have a good working relationship, given that Inacio was handed his Sporting Lisbon debut by Amorim in March 2021 and has established himself as a first-team mainstay.
It will be interesting to see if this transfer rumour develops into anything more concrete in the upcoming months.
