Transfer Centre

Manchester United ready to launch bid for Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio?

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 07 June 2022

Manchester United are allegedly preparing to launch an approach for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, who has also been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio during the summer transfer window.

Newly-appointed boss Erik ten Hag is currently in the process of establishing which players he wants to sign during his Old Trafford rebuild ahead of 2022-23.

While at least one central midfielder and a forward are towards the top of his priority list, a fresh face in the middle of the backline is also required.

Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are all being tipped to depart the Red Devils, while there is no guarantee that Harry Maguire will stay at the club in the long term.

According to A Bola, United have become the latest Premier League club to emerge as a potential destination for Inacio.

Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio during the warm up before the match on February 12, 2022 © Reuters

Over the weekend, speculation emerged that Wolverhampton Wanderers were ready to pay £30m for the Portugal Under-21 international, who helped Sporting win Primeira Liga during 2020-21.

The Portuguese connection and his age naturally makes Molineux an obvious choice for the 20-year-old to continue his progression, but it has since been claimed that Wolves are yet to make a bid.

Furthermore, A Bola adds that Inacio has little interest in signing for the West Midlands outfit, instead preferring to represent a club which is fighting for titles and competing in Europe.

That would also seemingly rule out Newcastle United, who are said to have looked to Inacio as a potential addition to their squad as they bid to achieve both of those targets.

Tondela's Renat Dadachov in action with Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio and Sebastian Coates on November 28, 2021 © Reuters

The report says that United are willing to pay in the region of £34m, as well as making a number of bonuses available to the player depending on his achievements.

Inacio made a total of 42 appearances in all competitions during the most recent campaign, all of his outings coming from the starting lineup.

However, Sporting played with a back three, the prospect, more often than not, featuring on the right or left-hand side, and it remains unclear whether Ten Hag will choose to use such a system at United.

Inacio played the full 90 minutes as Portugal Under-21s beat Belarus Under-21s by a 5-1 scoreline at the weekend, that appearance representing his third cap at that level.