Liverpool has made its presence felt in the current transfer window, grabbing headlines with their signings, but there’s a consensus among both Jurgen Klopp and the fanbase that a few more additions might be necessary. The defense has been a little shaky lately and if not for Allison’s wonder saves every week, the Reds could be one of the teams that concede a goal every match. Liverpool ranks only 14th in the Premier League for shots allowed in the box.
Why the need for a new defender?
With Virgil Van Dijk slowly approaching the end of his career, Klopp needs to set him up with a left-footed center-back. The urgency of the matter is huge with Konate and Gomez not playing up to the mark and veteran Matip is set to leave at the end of the season.
Goncalo Inacio, a talented Portuguese defender from Sporting Lisbon, has drawn interest from several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool. Rivals Manchester United were also in the race to land his signature but opted to back out as they could not offload Harry Maguire. It was reported that Liverpool sent some scouts in the recent Portugal game versus Bosnia.
Liverpool are also in the race to sign a CDM in the upcoming window and the signing of Inacio can be kept on hold till next summer or Klopp can spend a little and make sure he gets his team ready before the start of the new season.
Who is Goncalo Inacio?
The 22-year-old already had 48 appearances last season and Sporting wanted to keep a hold of their player by signing a contract extension that would keep the player at the club until 2027 with a release clause inserted worth 52 million dollars.
In the current season, Inacio’s defensive prowess is evident, with statistics showing an average of 0.9 tackles and interceptions per game and 0.6 blocks per game. Notably, he boasts a remarkable 2.7 clearances per game, a performance that places him among the top 10 defenders in Europe’s leading seven leagues.
Competition from Manchester United
Manchester United can take revenge for Cody Gakpo by hijacking the deal as the agent of Inacio, Miguel Pinho is also the agent of Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes. Having already starred 135 times for the club, Goncali Inacio is an established member of the first team and Sporting has reportedly said that they will not be willing to lower the asking price.
Liverpool broke the bank for Virgil Van Dijk after waiting on him for more than half a year and the result was amazing. The Reds can follow a similar path and try to secure the deal as soon as possible. With a contract running till 2027, negotiations can be tough but Liverpool would be more than lucky if they can land this deal.
How would he fit in the current Liverpool XI?
At just 22 years of age and standing tall at 186 cm, Goncalo Inacio is a remarkably composed defender who excels in playing from the back. His left-footed style adds to his versatility. There’s immense potential for him to thrive under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance, possibly forming a formidable partnership with Konate, especially as Gomez is presently deployed as a right back.
Only time will tell whether the defender from Sporting Lisbon comes to England and if he does then which shade of Red will he be wearing? Fans can expect a tug-of-war between the two clubs with Manchester United struggling as well.