Bruno Fernandes has already stated why Manchester United should pursue Goncalo Inacio before Liverpool.
A 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday, seen by Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, has lifted emotions at Old Trafford ahead of the January transfer window.
Despite the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in United is unlikely to be approved by the Premier League for six to eight weeks, Erik ten Hag’s side would profit from a busy January window.
Man United may need reinforcements at center-back, where Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and Raphael Varane have all been unavailable at different moments in recent months.
According to The Mirror, the club may want to sign a central defender next month, with Sporting star Goncalo Inacio allegedly among a four-player shortlist.
However, Portuguese site Jornal de Noticias (via Paisley Gates) has connected the five-cap Portugal international, who reputedly has a £52 million release clause, with a move to Liverpool.
Liverpool is currently without a healthy left-back due to injury. Joe Gomez, a natural centre-back, is basically the backup for both full-back positions while Andy Robertson recovers from a shoulder injury, which means Virgil van Dijk is also without protection.
But United captain Bruno Fernandes is one person who is likely to want Manchester United to pursue Inacio ahead of their Premier League opponents.
When Inacio was breaking into Sporting’s first-team, the 29-year-old played beside him. Fernandes compared the teenager to experienced French center-back Jeremy Mathieu at the time.
Fernandes previously stated to Record in December 2019: “But there is another young centre-back that I really like. Left-footed – I’ve talked about him several times. Gonçalo Inácio.
“He is a player who, if he comes to train with us one day, could learn a lot from Mathieu.
“We are talking about players with different builds, but their style of play is very similar.”
