Surajit Das
Transfer News: Manchester United are interested in Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio
According to transfer news from Correio da Manha (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United are keeping close tabs on talented centre-back Goncalo Inacio who continues to impress in the Portuguese top flight.
After progressing through their youth ranks, Inacio has shown impressive consistency and skilful play in the first team. He has become a regular first-team starter under manager Rúben Amorim and has appeared in 42 matches across all competitions in this spell.
Despite signing Raphael Varane last summer, Manchester United’s defensive problems haven’t gone away. As a result, they are looking for a quality centre-back in the market and have shortlisted the Sporting star. The Red Devils are eyeing to complete his move in the following summer transfer window.
How can Goncalo Inacio help Manchester United?
Despite having the most expensive centre-back of all time, Harry Maguire and four-time Champions League winner Raphaël Varane, Manchester United’s defence hasn’t shown expected performance this season. As a matter of fact, the Red Devils’ defenders have made some embarrassing blunders in that term, which has cost the team essential points.
Players like Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly have given below-average performances consistently. However, as the manager didn’t have many quality choices otherwise, he had no choice but to make do with what he had.
On top of that, Raphaël Varane, Harry Maguire and Phil Jones have all passed the 29-year-old mark. Considering their growing age, they might not be able to provide peak performances for a significant amount of time.
Goncalo Inacio is young and energetic and has already shown exceptional maturity in important matches. He could give massive competition to Varane and Maguire for the starting spot. Considering the Portuguese man is only 20 years old, he has an enormous potential to reach great heights. With the right coaching and support, he could master the art of defending pretty rapidly.
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As Man United appear to be impressed, they might push for the transfer when the summer transfer window opens. Considering Inacio is young and has never played in the Premier League, his price wouldn’t be much higher. But the Red Devils’ board must hurry, or rival teams can sniff the youngster’s quality and engage in a bidding war.
