Manchester United are keen on Sporting Clube de Portugal defender Goncalo Inacio and have ‘expressed interest’ in signing the 20-year-old.
That’s according to A Bola, who say the most powerful clubs in Europe are circling around the centre-back this summer.
They report that Manchester United are one of several sides to have shown an interest in the defender, who impressed for Sporting in Portugal last season.
They are keen to avoid losing the defender, who has a €45m release clause in his contract, a figure the Portuguese side would like to see met, but they could, though, do a deal at €40m.
That deal runs until 2026, so there is no pressure on Sporting, but after Manchester United ‘expressed interest’ in signing him, Barcelona have also joined the race.
So far, the approach from Old Trafford is considered a ‘superficial’ one and nothing more than a ‘collection of information’ on the player.
United, however, are the club that ‘seems to have the best conditions’ to get a transfer over the line, even though they have done nothing in that sense.
The priority for Erik ten Hag and co. at this moment in time is to slim down the squad and get players off of the books before then looking at reinforcements.
Discussions over Inacio are being led by agent Miguel Pinho, who was a key part of the deal that took Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United.
That saw him build a relationship of ‘extreme trust’ with those in charge at Old Trafford, and that could prove to be ‘decisive’ during negotiations.
They’re yet to start, and United have simply gathered all the information so they can make a move in the near future, but the idea of Inacio leaving Sporting is gaining ‘more and more strength’, and Manchester United are at the front of the queue.
