Liverpool set to present 'proposal' to £38m-rated centre-back amid wider Fabrizio Romano transfer claim
Liverpool FC transfer news: The Sporting defender has been a reported target for some time and has been linked again with a move in this window.
Reports in Portugal claim Liverpool are set to present a proposal to sign Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio.
The Portuguese international has been a player linked for well over a year and he has built a strong reputation as one of the best young defenders in his country. Inacio, 22, has already played twice this season, as he played 101 minutes in the Super Cup defeat to Porto in a dramatic 4-3 encounter before helping his side to get off to a winning start in the league with a win over Rio Ave.
According to the report by OJogo, Inacio’s agent is in England and is reportedly waiting for an offer from Liverpool. It also states that there is a possibility that Sporting will sit down & negotiate a price of £38m despite the player having a £51m release clause. It also ties in with the latest claim from Fabrizio Romano who claims there are a few deals that Liverpool are ‘working on’ but he failed to disclose any names. He did reveal that the club were working behind the scenes and that they wouldn’t just spend for the sake of it. Any deal for a centre-back, especially one of this calibre, would certainly require another exit in that area, with Sepp van den Berg a clear favourite.
“It was widely reported earlier in the summer that a young defender would also be on the agenda for Liverpool, but so far we haven’t seen anyone come in,” Romano said. “What I can say is that Liverpool are still exploring several options on the market – they will just not sign for the sake of it, but if they find right opportunity. They keep working on ideas and options, for sure.”
The Dutchman has been eyed by several Bundesliga clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen. Kicker, the German outlet, has claimed Xabi Alonso sees the 22-year-old as a apt replacement for the Ivorian international Odilon Kossounou (who has coincidentally been linked with Liverpool) after recent weeks have seen interest in the defender rise.
Liverpool are still maintaining their £20m stance, according to Kicker and such a fee has already put bidders off PSV Eindhoven and it remains to be seen which club would actually be able afford that fee.