13 November 2023 , 07:00
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Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio is still being courted by a host of European heavyweights ahead of the winter transfer window, including Manchester United.
The highly-rated 22-year-old has evolved into a key player for Sporting after progressing through the club's academy ranks and has also established himself as a significant part of Portugal national team this term, where he has starred alongside Ruben Dias in central defence.
Inacio's imperious form has not gone unnoticed overseas - particularly in the Premier League. Reports last month outlined that Liverpool had recently sent scouts to observe the youngster, but the Reds' bitter rivals are also admirers of the Sporting star.
A new report from CM Sport has outlined that United are ready to press ahead with their interest in the defender, who has a €60million (£52.5m) release clause. It's claimed that an initial offer of €45m (£39.3m) would be tabled for Inacio with a further €15m (£13.1m) included in add-ons and variables making up any potential deal.
Prising Inacio away from Portugal will be no mean feat, though, given that Liverpool are not the only other club monitoring the defender's progress. La Liga giants Real Madrid are also keeping tabs on Inacio and have designs on luring him to the Bernabeu, while others are likely to be aware of his abilities.
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Intriguingly, Inacio is represented by Miguel Pinho: the agent who also represents Bruno Fernandes and negotiated the £47m deal that took the United captain to Old Trafford back in January 2020. He would be responsible for brokering any deal should United firm up their interest in Inacio once the transfer window reopens in January.
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Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio is being courted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid (Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)Sporting have a rich history of selling on homegrown talent for a profit, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Manchester United back in the summer of 2003. Inaco has already clocked up over 130 appearances for the Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit.
Erik ten Hag has been working on plans to bolster his defence and initially included Inacio on a four-man shortlist consisting of the Sporting star, Jean-Clair Todibo, Antonio Silva and Edmond Tapsoba with a view to signing one of the quartet next summer.
However, United could now accelerate those plans and move for Inacio in the New Year. The Red Devils have endured a nightmare start to the 2023/24 campaign and have started recent matches with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans as their central defensive pairing.