Liverpool have reignited their interest in Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio ahead of the upcoming transfer window. The Portuguese defender, valued at £51 million, has been on the Reds’ radar for some time, with scouts closely monitoring his performances at Sporting for several months.

The 23-year-old Portuguese defender, who has spent his entire career at Sporting, may be seeking a new challenge. Following in the footsteps of his national teammate Bruno Fernandes, Inacio could soon make a move to the Premier League in the near future.

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Liverpool have made Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio their top transfer target and are preparing to make an opening bid. The Reds are keen on signing a left-footed centre-back this summer, and Inacio, who played for Portugal at Euro 2024, fits the profile. According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, while Sporting initially demanded £51m, they are now open to talks starting at £38m. This reduced fee could be a bargain for Liverpool, who have long been linked with the 23-year-old rising talent.

Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio has played an impressive 178 games for the club and is currently earning £28,900 per week. One of the earliest links to Liverpool came in March 2023, when Neil Jones reported for GOAL that Liverpool were tracking both Inacio and Benfica’s Antonio Silva. The potential appointment of Ruben Amorim as Liverpool’s head coach was expected to speed up the pursuit of his defender, but that did not come into reality as Arne Slot took the throne instead.

New reports of interest in Goncalo Inacio come at a time when signing a centre-back is a priority for Liverpool, following the departure of Joel Matip on a free transfer. Matip’s exit leaves Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah, and Joe Gomez as the club’s senior centre-back options.

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It is easy to predict Slot using Inacio as a third centre-back, starting at left-back, especially if Trent Alexander-Arnold remains in his role as an attacking right-back. Alternatively, Inacio could serve as a direct replacement for Van Dijk, eventually taking over as the left-sided centre-back.