Liverpool keen on Portugal defender

The summer transfer window reopens on Friday, with Premier League clubs once again expected to be busy. 

The recent January window was uncharacteristically quiet for the clubs in the English top flight, but teams at both ends of the division are likely to be active in the market over the coming weeks.

One of the clubs that could be on the hunt for reinforcements is Liverpool, and it appears that the Merseyside outfit are chasing a central defender.

As per Football Insider, the Reds are keen on Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio ahead of the summer window.

The report claims that Liverpool have ‘concrete’ interest in the 22-year-old centre-back, who will represent his native Portugal at the European Championships this summer.

Inacio has attracted interest from Liverpool

It is claimed that Liverpool are targeting a young, left-sided central defender to develop under new manager Arne Slot and, eventually, act as a long-term replacement for captain Virgil van Dijk.

Inacio has emerged as one of their top targets, having impressed in the Portuguese top flight of late.

In total the defender has played more than 170 times for his boyhood club across all competitions, having graduated through the club’s youth academy.

Current Liverpool defender Joel Matip is set to leave Anfield when his contract expires at the end of this month, while fellow centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez have struggled with injuries throughout their spells at the club.

Inacio is currently contracted to Liverpool until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, but Sporting are likely to face a tough battle to keep hold of the payer as he continues to attract interest from elsewhere.

The Portuguese is also said to have emerged as a target for Liverpool’s fierce Premier League rivals, Manchester United.