Liverpool target holding out for Anfield move

Liverpool will face Watford or Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round after cruising past Norwich City on Sunday. 

In the Reds’ first match after Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave the club, the Merseyside outfit made light work of their Championship opponents at Anfield.

Goals from Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez put the hosts firmly in control at half-time, before Diogo Jota added a third shortly after the break.

In the second period, Virgil van Dijk headed in a fourth, before midfielder Ryan Gravenberch netted Liverpool’s fifth.

Liverpool are one of several Premier League sides that are yet to complete a signing during the current transfer window, but it appears that they may have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a defensive target.

According to O Jogo via The Independent, Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio has rejected a move to Newcastle United and is instead holding out for a move to either Liverpool, Manchester United, or Real Madrid.

Inacio has reportedly rejected interest from Newcastle United

The 22-year-old has been in sensational form for the Portuguese side over the past couple of seasons, and his impressive performances have attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Liverpool are one of those interested in the player, and their pursuit of him appears to have been made easier with the player rejecting a move to St. James’ Park.

Inacio is a product of Sporting’s youth academy and has now played 150 times for the club at senior level.

The five-time Portugal international is contracted to his boyhood club until 2027 but with so much interest in his services, it appears increasingly unlikely that he will remain at the club until then.

Current Liverpool defender Joel Matip is set to be out of contract at the end of the season and, with the Cameroon international currently sidelined for a number of months, he may well have already played his final game for the Reds.

With that in mind, Liverpool are keen to recruit in defence, but it appears almost certain that Inacio will stay put in Lisbon until the summer at least.