Chelsea are ready to battle a host of rivals for the signature of Goncalo Inacio, with Real Madrid and Liverpool also in the race for the Portuguese international.
According to Fichajes, the race for Goncalo Inacio picks up momentum with the arrival of Chelsea in the mix. The Stamford Bridge outfit are keen on the defender and are ready to rival competition from Liverpool and Real Madrid.
At 21 years of age, Goncalo Inacio is already creating waves and competition for his signature. The Premier League seems to have plenty of interest in the Portuguese international in what is described as a crucial period in the transfer window.
Inacio excelled last season with Sporting CP and remained one of their standout stars. The Portuguese club are open to offers for the defender, provided suitors meet his €45 million release clause. In normal circumstances, these exit clauses come paid in full, but here the seller club might make exceptions if teams are able to offer slightly more.
It’s a similar tactic deployed in recent windows, as top clubs could pay more and get a deal structured instead of paying the full release clause in one go. Such a deal has enticed Chelsea towards registering an interest in Inacio, who remains open to moving to a bigger league.
Liverpool have also been interested in Inacio. Jurgen Klopp has been on the lookout for a new centre-back to add quality depth to the backline. The Reds somewhat struggled last season with broken partnerships and subdued performances from their otherwise astute stars.
While their interest remains evident, there are doubts whether Klopp would sanction a large chunk of his transfer budget on a 21-year-old defender, certainly not for €45 million. Yet, things could change as the window progresses and the Merseysiders get their primary targets on board.
Real Madrid have also been interested, but with Nacho signing a new deal, they do seem well-stocked at the back. They might enter the chase if Inacio’s price drops considerably, which seems unlikely. The overall situation with the 21-year-old could allow Chelsea a route into making a concrete effort to sign him.
The Blues are very much in the race as per the report and could consider making a move. However, things might depend on the future of Levi Colwill, and if the defender rejects a new contract to move on, then Inacio could come in as a replacement.
Otherwise, there might be no need for Inacio to become a key target for Chelsea, but he still remains a solid, opportunistic signing for the Blues. Whether they will sanction a €45 million bid remains the question, but they might still explore.
