Man Utd & Liverpool 'monitoring' £51m defender

Manchester United and Liverpool are both contemplating moves for Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, according to reports.

The two Premier League rivals are believed to be on the lookout for reinforcements at centre-back this transfer window and have been linked with a wide array of names.

One player on United and Liverpool's radars is Inacio, with Fabrizio Romano claiming they are 'monitoring' the 22-year-old. Inacio's contract contains a release clause worth around £51m.

Inacio featured 49 times across all competitions during a successful 2023/24 season for Sporting, who reclaimed the Portuguese title ahead of Benfica and Porto. He has also been named in Portugal's 26-player squad for Euro 2024, though no defender in Roberto Martinez's side has fewer senior caps than his tally of six.

United are still deliberating over just how many centre-backs they want to bring in this summer, with the club prioritising a right-footed defender. The Red Devils confirmed last month that veteran option Raphael Varane will leave when his contract expires at the end of June.

Though they were victorious in the FA Cup, United endured a forgettable Premier League campaign, finishing eighth - their lowest return since 1990 - and conceding more shots than in any other of their previous seasons on record.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are entering a new era following the departure of manager Jurgen Klopp. Arne Slot has been hired as his replacement in the dugout, while the club have a new footballing restructure in regards to recruitment, with Michael Edwards returning as FSG's CEO of football and Richard Hughes coming in as sporting director.

Reds captain and star centre-back Virgil van Dijk has also revealed talks are not currently ongoing over a new contract, with his current deal up in 2025. Nevertheless, he is relaxed about his future and affirmed his commitment to helping Liverpool navigate the post-Klopp era.

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD