Sporting CP will not sell Goncalo Inacio in January, thus dealing a blow to his suitors like Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.
According to a report by O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Sporting CP will not part ways with Goncalo Inacio in the January transfer window. In addition, they will only sell the Portuguese defender if a suitor shells out €60 million. Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United are keen on signing him.
Goncalo Inacio is one of the best young defenders in the world, with his stock skyrocketing since breaking into the Sporting CP first-team squad. The 22-year-old, who has been with the well-known club for over a decade, made his first-team debut for the Leoes in 2020.
Since then, the Portuguese international has come leaps and bounds, and he has also broken into his national team. Meanwhile, Inacio has turned out 137 times thus far for Sporting CP, chipping in with 11 goals and eight assists. The youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
Real Madrid recently joined the race to sign Inacio, with Juni Calafat pushing for his addition to the first-team squad. Reports last month claimed Los Blancos would launch the offensive for him over a January move. And with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba on the wrong side of 30, the 22-year-old can be a long-term central defensive solution alongside Eder Militao.
As for Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk is well into his thirties and approaching the final phase of his glittering career. So, it behoves the Merseyside club to scour the market for a young centre-back. Inacio has thus emerged as a viable target, as the Portuguese international can forge a long-term partnership with Ibrahima Konate.
Meanwhile, Manchester United can do with a centre-back amid the crisis that has engulfed the club. With Lisandro Martinez’s fitness situation becoming dubious, the Red Devils need another left-footed centre-back. Inacio is thus an option worth considering. But Manchester United, Real Madrid and Liverpool will have to wait until next summer to land him.
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Sporting CP will not entertain offers for the 22-year-old defender in the January transfer window. In addition, contrary to recent claims that a compromise over a transfer fee might be possible, they will not part ways with the Portuguese defender unless a suitor triggers his release clause. So, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United must fork out €60 million to land him.
