Goncalo Inacio agent in England as Liverpool poised for $65m transfer breakthrough

Liverpool could be on the verge of a breakthrough in its pursuit of Sporting Lisbon's center-back , Goncalo Inacio.

The Portuguese defender has previously been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United . Portuguese newspaper A Bola reports that agent Miguel Pinho, who also represents Bruno Fernandes, is currently in England following the United captain's decision to extend his stay at Old Trafford. Consequently, it's suggested that Pinho will now engage in talks with Liverpool regarding Inacio's future.

At present, these discussions are said to be informal, but the publication maintains that Liverpool remains keen on securing the Portugal international. However, acquiring Inacio won't come cheap.

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Sporting won't let him go for anything less than his release clause of €60m ($65.8 million). Sporting's manager Ruben Amorim, once considered as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp , is believed to have included Inacio in a list of players he doesn't want to lose.

United has also shown interest in the 25-year-old, but it has since brought in Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt to bolster Erik ten Hag's defensive line-up. Meanwhile, O Jogo reports that Liverpool will submit an offer to Pinho for Inacio, despite the player not being seen as a priority in the transfer market earlier this summer.

Before Inacio penned a new contract last summer, his release clause was set at €45 million ($49.4 million). It's suggested that an offer in this region could persuade Sporting to sell, with Arne Slot looking for his first summer acquisition since succeeding Klopp.

Inacio is being eyed as a potential replacement for Joel Matip. Martin Zubimendi seemed poised to be Slot's inaugural signing, but despite Liverpool's keen interest, the Spanish international chose to decline Anfield's offer and remain with Real Sociedad.