Newcastle United appears poised to vie with Real Madrid for the acquisition of Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio. The 22-year-old is highly regarded as one of Portugal’s top defenders, having become a crucial figure for Sporting over the past three years.
Inacio’s journey began in Sporting’s youth system at the age of 11, leading to a remarkable 136 senior appearances and 11 goals across various competitions. His three international caps for Portugal, along with a Primeira Liga title and two Taca da Liga trophies with Sporting, underline his success. He has also gained valuable experience in the Champions League and Europa League.
Inacio’s impressive performance on the European stage has piqued the interest of several top clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, who have reportedly been monitoring him since the summer. A recent report suggests that Real Madrid is also keen on Inacio, particularly due to the long-term absence of Eder Militao. It is believed that Inacio has a release clause in his Sporting contract, set to expire in June 2027, with a value ranging from €45m (£38.8m) to €60m (£52.3m).
However, according to Fichajes, Newcastle has gone a step further by presenting a €70m (£61m) bid for Inacio as they express their serious interest and determination to secure his signature before the New Year. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is reportedly eager to strengthen various positions in his squad in 2024, given the absence of key first-team players due to injuries and suspensions during a hectic fixture schedule across four competitions. Their need for a center-back has become a priority, with Sven Botman recovering from a knee injury and no clear timeline for his return. Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar, and Dan Burn are other central defensive options at Howe’s disposal.
In addition to reinforcing their defensive line, Newcastle is also expected to intensify their pursuit of a new midfielder, especially following a 10-month ban imposed on Sandro Tonali for breaching betting offenses. Several players have been linked to a potential move to St James’ Park, including Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, N’Golo Kante, and Gabri Veiga from the Saudi Pro League.
Newcastle’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, has indicated the club’s intent to be “active” in the January transfer market and is open to advancing their spending if the “right opportunities” present themselves.
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