Liverpool ‘rivalling’ Manchester United for Sporting Lisbon star plus more transfer rumours

Manchester United are set to tussle with Liverpool should they decide to launch a bid for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, reports suggest.

The centre-back, who has two goals in four Portugal caps, has helped his side stay undefeated so far this season to see them top of the Portuguese table. Both Liverpool and United are expected to hunt for a new centre-back within the next two transfer windows.

A report from The Mirror claims Inacio is a target of United but that Jurgen Klopp sent scouts to watch the defender 22-year-old feature for his country against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week.

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The player has the same representatives as Bruno Fernandes with agent Miguel Pinho negotiating the club captain’s move to Old Trafford in 2020. However, Sporting are said to be disinterested in letting him go this January.

Inacio has already chalked up 129 senior appearances for his employers and signed a new deal in August that keeps him at the club until 2027, so he would not come cheap. United look set to make a number of decisions on centre-backs in the next six months.

Harry Maguire has hinted he could look for a new club ahead of Euro 2024 if he remains low down on the pecking order, albeit might be set for extended game time with Lisandro Martinez sidelined possibly until next year.

Meanwhile, MEN Sport understands that United are set to trigger the year-long contract extension of Victor Lindelof. The club will need to make a decision on 35-year-old Jonny Evans by next summer having signed a shock short 12-month deal on deadline day.

Elsewhere, Dutch journalist Mikos Gouka has