Sporting CP might be ready to accept a compromise and sell Goncalo Inacio, a target for Real Madrid, for a base fee of €45 million.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Goncalo Inacio remains a target for Real Madrid. The 22-year-old centre-back has a release clause worth €60 million in his contract with Sporting CP. But the Lions are ready to accept a compromised base fee of €45 million while leaving the remaining €15 million as add-ons.
Goncalo Inacio has become one of the most highly-coveted centre-backs in the world since breaking into the Sporting CP first-team squad. A mainstay at the back for the Portuguese club, the youngster has come leaps and bounds in the last few years, even breaking into his national team.
The 22-year-old has turned out 137 times thus far for Sporting CP, chipping in with 11 goals and eight assists. Meanwhile, Inacio recently signed a new contract with the Leoes, which bumped his release clause from €45 million to €60 million. The player’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs in Europe.
Many Premier League bigwigs are invariably keen on securing Inacio’s services. Recent reports have pointed to Liverpool being in the pole position to land the young centre-back. But Real Madrid recently joined the race to sign him, with the club’s entry into the picture changing the equation.
Real Madrid will aim to secure Inacio’s services in the January transfer window. The Merengues are scouring the market for centre-backs after an injury crisis struck the central defensive unit. With Eder Militao still on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury and Nacho approaching the final months of his contract, Real Madrid should invest in a top-notch central defender.
Inacio has thus emerged as a viable target for Los Blancos. But recent reports have suggested they might not be ready to fork out €60 million to prise the 22-year-old away from Sporting CP. So, the latest update will come as a boost for Real Madrid, with the Portuguese giants ready to accept a base fee of €45 million.
Sporting CP will still demand a package of €60 million to part ways with the in-demand centre-back. But they are ready to leave the remaining €15 million as add-ons. So, it will be interesting to see if such an arrangement appeals to Real Madrid as we approach the January transfer window.