Chelsea are reportedly open to paying €50 million to sign Goncalo Inacio, with Liverpool also interested in the 21-year-old Sporting CP.
According to Fichajes, Chelsea are looking to sign Goncalo Inacio as their new centre-back and willing to pay €50 million for the Portuguese international. The 21-year-old Liverpool target has attracted considerable interest, but there are question marks over why Chelsea would want him in the first place.
News surrounding Goncalo Inacio’s ‘imminent’ transfer to the Premier League has gone quiet over the course of the month. The 21-year-old Portuguese centre-back got touted as a key signing for many English clubs, who instead have focused on other priorities so far.
Left-footed centre-backs have been in demand with Premier League clubs, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all looking at one. If a club has the financial capacity to buy Josko Gvardiol, then Man City are that, and they are swiftly looking to agree on a deal with RB Leipzig.
Others like Liverpool and Chelsea have seen links to Inacio and other players. The 21-year-old had another stellar season and is ready to experience the Premier League. Whether clubs here are serious about signing him remains the question, but soon enough, clubs could start accelerating their pursuit.
Liverpool and Chelsea were linked with a move, with the Reds now focused on reshaping their midfield. After that, Jurgen Klopp might turn his attention towards a left-footed centre-back, which he lacks in his squad.
While Liverpool continues to wait before making any progress on their interest, Chelsea are looking to swoop in for the 21-year-old. Sporting reportedly demands a fee of around 50 million, which the Blues are ready to pay.
The big question is whether they need another left-footed centre-back right now, as they already have two promising players. Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill currently occupy those slots, while Marc Cucurella can also slot in there if required.
While they are intent on handing Colwill a new contract, there’s no reason for Chelsea to approach another similar centre-back unless there’s friction between the parties. They recently agreed to sign Axel Disasi from Monaco in a €45 million deal; paying another €50 million on a defender makes little sense.
Chelsea also have priority requirements in the central field and the striker’s position, which could baffle many if they made a move for Inacio. Moreover, they will not play European football next season, which might restrict the game time of their existing options.
Hence, despite the strong links to Inacio, it’s difficult to see Chelsea making a real move for the 21-year-old in the coming days. Unless they are about to sanction a sale for Colwill, the move makes little sense, although the Portuguese international is a great option for them or any other Premier League side.
