Manchester United have been linked with 21-year-old Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, and team manager Erik Ten Hag is reportedly a huge fan of the Primeria Liga center back.
The Red Devils are tipped to snap up the left-footed center back from Sporting Lisbon amid Erik Ten Hag's potential plans to revamp the team's roster next summer.
The unavailability of a left-footed central back late last year due to Lisandro Martinez's participation in the World Cup tournament in Qatar forced Erik Ten Hag to move Luke Shaw from his traditional left back position to the heart of the defense, partnering him with Raphael Varane and Casemiro on two different occasions. However, it came at the cost of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, who remained on the bench.
Manchester United have been tipped to sign the left-footed defender, as Erik Ten Hag is a fan. While Eric Baily and Alex Tuanzenbe are currently on loan stints with Olympique Marseille and Stoke City, respectively, their futures at the club aren't assured, and Erik Ten Hag's yearn for a balanced squad means a central back deal next summer is inevitable unless the Dutch tactician decides to turn to the youth team to seek solutions.
Transfer Journalist Fabrizio Romano clarified via his column on Caught Offside the situation regarding the 21-year-old being linked with a move to Old Trafford.
"I’ve been asked a few times now about Manchester United following Goncalo Inacio," he wrote.
“Many, many clubs have followed him for a long time." He’s an amazing talent; I think he’s one of the best left-footed young center-backs in Europe. "He would be a top signing for any club, but I’m not aware of anything concrete for now.”
Goncalo Inacio, 21, has gone through the ranks of Sporting Lisbon's youth set-up after joining from Amanda Formaco in 2012; he has garnered 109 appearances and broken into the senior team since then.
Manutd News claims the center back has a price tag of €45 million in his contract, but Manchester United will have to auction off the sale of one of the current first team defenders before completing his signing.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof could be sold to make space for the 21-year-old star, as both have lost their places in the team's starting eleven.
England international Harry Maguire and Swedish star Victor Lindelof have both started five times each across the campaign, while Victor Lindelof has been a decent back-up for Raphael Varane.
Both have uncertainties regarding their futures at Old Trafford and are linked with an exit ahead of the next summer transfer window.
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