Liverpool pushing to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio

Liverpool are working hard behind the scenes to get a deal done for Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio.

In the last couple of years, Goncalo Inacio, 22, has gone from strength to strength, becoming a mainstay at the back for Sporting CP and one of Europe’s highly coveted young central defenders. Despite being 22 years old, he is already a regular for Sporting CP and the Portugal national team. The left-footed centre-back, adept at playing as a left-back, has turned the heads of elite European clubs with his rollicking form this season, racking up 38 appearances across all competitions thus far.

Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Newcastle United are all monitoring the progress of Inacio at Sporting CP. But it is Liverpool who are reportedly favourites to win the race for the Portuguese defender’s signature. The 22-year-old has a contract with the Lions until 2027 but it contains a release clause worth around €60 million.

Liverpool planning to reinforce their defence

Jurgen Klopp has never hesitated to trust youth in his illustrious Liverpool career and his decision to promote academy kid Jarrell Quansah into the first team this season has already shown promising results. Quansah has seamlessly integrated into the first team and played some key fixtures for the Reds, proving Klopp’s ability to nurture young talents.

In Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have just three senior central defenders in the squad. Out of which Matip is currently sidelined with a knee injury and has perhaps played the last game in a Red shirt as his contract expires in June. Konate has again endured an injury-hit season while Van Dijk is now 32 and not getting any younger.

With Quansah showing all the signs of being a future star at Anfield, the Merseysiders must think about replacing both Van Dijk and Matip—two great servants for the club. They have set their sights on Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio to reinforce their backline for the 2024/25 campaign.

Inacio has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last 15 to 18 months at Sporting, having come through their academy. He has the attributes to develop into a world-class centre-back, and considering his eye-catching performances for both Sporting and Portugal, the 22-year-old would be an ideal long-term replacement for Van Dijk. Due to him being left-footed, the Sporting star should complement Konate at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.

For €60 million, there is no doubt that Inacio would be a smashing, long-term investment for Liverpool. He has the mixture of technical skills and physical attributes to improve their defence, and the opportunity to move to one of the biggest clubs in Europe and unlock his true potential will be too good to resist for the Portuguese international if the Merseysiders come calling for his signature in the summer.