Manchester United and Liverpool step up interest in Sporting Lisbon defender Gonçalo Inácio | OneFootball

Manchester United and Liverpool have both expressed interest in Gonçalo Inácio in recent days.

The Old Trafford side are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements after a well below-par season.

This has resulted in the team conceding 77 goals in all competitions and the future of many centre backs such as Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans hangs in the balance.

Consequently, it has been made very clear that that INEOS will pursue a central defender or possibly even two this summer in an effort to stop leaking goals.

It has been suggested by many that Jarrad Branthwaite is the number one target but names like Marc Guehi and Max Kilman have also entered the picture.

One name that has not been suggested for a while is that of Sporting Lisbon’s Gonçalo Inácio.

United have been credited with an interest in the defender for a long time but face stiff competition from teams such as Arsenal and Real Madrid.

It had been stated that Sporting would only be prepared to let the player go if his £51.6 million release clause was met, but this may not exactly be the case.

Footballtransfers.com asserts that both Liverpool and United have “stepped up their pursuit” of Inácio.

The outlet claims that “the Sporting CP defender has a release clause but we understand that both sides have enquired about putting in a proposal below that.”

Should the Portuguese leaders be tempted to sell for less than the clause, the deal may represent good value for a 22 year old who is certainly on the up in his career.

He has been a rock at the back of Sporting’s defence as they have only conceded 29 goals in the 32 matches they have completed on their march towards the title.

Inácio has been described as “already showing signs of being an elite central defender” and “top European clubs will be interested in the young Portuguese centre back, especially top sides that value the ability of ball-playing defenders.”

It will be interesting to see whether United can convince Sporting to sell below the release clause and whether they can come out on top against their arch rivals Liverpool should a bidding war emerge for the talented Portuguese.

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