Liverpool are keen on making a move for highly-rated Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio this summer, according to a fresh update.
Much of the focus during the summer transfer window to date has been the Reds’ midfield business, with significant inroads already made in that area of the pitch.
Alexis Mac Allister kicked things off by arriving from Brighton, in what looks like a really shrewd signing, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also come in from RB Leipzig.
Away from the midfield situation, though, it could be that Liverpool also look to bring in a new centre-back – preferably a left-sided one who is also capable of playing at left-back, providing a little more competition for the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson in the process.
Chelsea starlet Levi Colwill has emerged as a potential signing for the Reds, but Inacio is another talented youngster who has been linked with a move.
According to Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], Jurgen Klopp is “not satisfied” with his defensive options currently and the Portuguese centre-back is “one of the names on the list” when it comes to possible targets.
Inacio has a €45m (£38.5m) release clause that reportedly won’t be an issue for Liverpool, with a different report from A Bola also confirming the Reds’ interest, but claiming that Sporting are trying to keep hold of him.
Our thoughts on Liverpool’s interest in Inacio…
Inacio could be precisely what the Merseysiders are after ahead of the new Premier League season, acting as someone who can come in as a strong squad player to begin with, before becoming Ibrahima Konate’s eventual long-term partner at centre-back.
The 21-year-old has already made 122 appearances for Sporting, chipping in with 11 goals and eight assists – an impressive return for a central defender – and he is already a two-cap Portugal international, too.
Inacio is left-footed, meaning he would provide more balance, especially considering his aforementioned ability to slot into a left-back role, if needed, and he could be viewed as an immediate upgrade on Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, both of whom experienced difficult 2022/23 seasons.
Bringing in either the Sporting hero or Colwill would cap an excellent transfer window by Liverpool, assuming another midfielder also comes in – Romeo Lavia looks the best and most likely option currently – as the Reds look to show that last season was nothing more than a blip.
