Liverpool ‘set aside’ €70m to finalize ‘priority’ deal for ‘top’ target ahead of Man Utd

Liverpool continues to show interest in Sporting Lisbon’s defender Goncalo Inacio, who came close to joining the club during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool initially focused on strengthening their midfield, spending approximately £150 million to sign players like Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch.

Now that their midfield has been revamped, Liverpool are shifting their attention towards signing new defensive players, possibly one or two.

During the summer, they were linked with various defensive options as they sought a long-term replacement for their 32-year-old defender, Virgil van Dijk. Among the candidates, Inacio was reportedly their primary target.

Inacio, the Portugal international, has impressed at Sporting Lisbon in recent years, and in the summer, he had a £39 million release clause in his contract.

However, last month, his chances of joining Liverpool diminished as he signed a new long-term contract with Sporting Lisbon, which includes a higher release clause of £51 million.

Liverpool to go after Goncalo Inacio in winter

According to Anfield Watch, Liverpool is actively monitoring Goncalo Inacio in anticipation of the January transfer window.

They have set aside a budget of €70 million (£60 million) for the acquisition of a center-back in 2024, a position that remains a top priority for the club.

Sources close to the situation revealed that Inacio was on the verge of signing with Liverpool during the summer transfer window, but he chose to stay and support his club in the Europa League group stage.

The 22-year-old subsequently signed a new contract with Sporting CP, which includes the £51.5 million release clause, a significant increase from his previous clause of £33 million.

Throughout the year, Liverpool, along with Manchester United and Newcastle, have been linked to Inacio. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano noted earlier this year that many clubs have been monitoring Inacio due to his exceptional talent, describing him as one of the best young left-footed center-backs in Europe.

However, as of now, there have been no concrete developments regarding his potential transfer.