Liverpool and Newcastle have reportedly made contact with Sporting CP over a potential summer transfer for Manchester United target Goncalo Inacio, who might soon have a €50 million exit release clause.
That is according to a report from Portuguese outlet Diario de Noticias (via Paisley Gates), which says Goncalo Inacio has been monitored closely by the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United, even though the player “is now set to secure fresh terms” with Sporting CP.
The two parties are said to be close to reaching a total agreement for the young defender’s contract extension. Goncalo Inacio, who currently earns €300,000 a year, will triple his salary but will only raise the release clause by €5 million, while the length of the deal will remain the same until 2026.
His existing deal boasts an exit clause of €45 million; it will be increased to €50 million, with the defender willing to stay with the Lions for another year before making the big step to the European elite. However, the report adds, suitors such as Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester United can still land his signature by paying up the aforementioned release clause.
Inacio is one of Portugal’s best upcoming centre-backs, alongside Antonio Silva. Last season, he featured in 52 games across all competitions for Sporting and made seven goal contributions as they finished 4th in the Primeira Liga table.
The 21-year-old has the potential to become an elite defender in the future. So, it comes as little surprise that he is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs. Newcastle, for one, are currently in the market for a new left-back to provide competition to Dan Burn. Marc Cucurella and Kieran Tierney have been considered, while Lewis Hall is also admired.
However, they could yet go with an unorthodox and versatile option in Inacio, who would fit in nicely in the Burn role, which requires a good aerial and combative profile as well as the ability to play out from the back. A move for the Portuguese defender would certainly fit in with Newcastle’s transfer strategy of buying young, high-potential players.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have scouted him in the past but are yet to make a formal approach to sign him. However, after spending lavishly this summer, any more incomings in the centre-back area could hinge on the departures of fringe cast members such as Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire, with the latter’s potential West Ham United move now off.
The priority right now for Liverpool is to sign a defensive midfielder after they kicked off the new season without a replacement for Fabinho, and missed out on primary transfer targets, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, both of whom opted for a move to Stamford Bridge over Anfield.
Anyway, adding to their backline is also something they might want to address, and remains high on the agenda for Jurgen Klopp amid interest in Inacio. Indeed, Virgil van Dijk usually operates to the left of their centre-back duo, but he is right-footed.
Thus, left-footed Inacio could provide further balance to the department. That said, the Reds need to move fast if they are to reassemble the squad to the desired level before the transfer window closes in several weeks.
