This summer, Manchester United will be busy in the transfer market with several key positions needing to be strengthened for Ruben Amorim.
Ineos‘ summer rebuild of Manchester United is set to take place over the coming months, with plenty of outgoings clearing the way for incomings.
Ruben Amorim will be hoping for a summer akin to his first at Sporting CP back in 2020, with United getting rid of at least 10 unwanted stars.
United have four positions taking priority, according to Fabrizio Romano, which will need to be funded through the sales of players who have been involved in this season’s fall to a catastrophic 14th place in the Premier League.
One position that United are keen on adding to is centre-back, with several options already being considered to replace the imminent departures of Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof.
Now, one of Amorim’s favourites from Sporting has re-emerged as an option.
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty ImagesManchester United is interested in Goncalo Inacio
When Amorim joined United as head coach, it was widely assumed that he would have a Sporting player or two join him. However, with Geovany Quenda off the table and Viktor Gyokeres potentially beyond reach, options are slim.
United are keen on signing Francisco Trincao from Sporting, and now, according to reports in Portugal, there is another.
It is claimed by A Bola that United are now eyeing up a swoop to sign Goncalo Inacio this summer in order to bolster the centre-back ranks.
United have been following Inacio for over a year, yet in recent weeks the situation has changed with Sporting willing to negotiate over their asking price. Inacio has a £51m release clause in his contract, but a willingness to negotiate could mean that United have a chance at pushing this price down, with Sporting ‘open to offers’.
The price has been set at £38.5m, a figure United could easily spend to make Inacio a starting centre back on the left of the three. Inacio is also said to be keen on making a transfer, viewing his future away from Sporting.
It is continued that United are one of the strongest candidates to sign Inacio, and hold an advantage over others as Inacio shares an agent with Bruno Fernandes, Miguel Pinho, and United are said to have a strong relationship with him.
Inacio could be an impressive upgrade for Manchester United’s defence
If signed, Inacio would almost be a direct replacement for Lisandro Martinez in the centre of defence as he is left-footed and shares a lot of the same qualities in being an out-and-out defender who is also very good on the ball.
Inacio ranks in the 99th percentile among centre backs in Europe’s top five leagues for non penalty goals and also blocks which are two big qualities he possesses.
He also ranks highly for take-ons (98th percentile) and passes attempted (97th percentile). Inacio was one of 27 Sporting debutants under Amorim, and he would instantly understand the demands of the system being implemented.
Adding Inacio would likely mean Martinez’s position as a starter would be gone, but with his injury record, he can have no complaints.
A signing Amorim would love to complete, so Ineos should be keen for that reason alone.