Liverpool have reportedly upped their interest in signing Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.
Jurgen Klopp enjoyed a relatively productive summer in the transfer market, particularly in midfield where he needed to upgrade his options.
However, while the Merseyside giants would be happy with the acquisitions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, they did not make addition in other areas.
That includes the centre of their backline where Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are now 32 years of age and Joe Gomez is regarded as a versatile backup member.
The emergence of youngster Jarell Quansah has been a welcome boost for Klopp, yet it is expected that they will want to add a world-renown player for that position in one of the coming transfer windows.
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As it stands, that is most likely to occur next summer, when it has become clear whether Matip will be remaining at Anfield and if there have been any suitable offers for Gomez.
According to A Bola, Liverpool are already stepping up their plans to make an approach for Inacio.
Scouts were allegedly sent to assess the development of the 22-year-old during Portugal's recent Euro 2024 qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Inacio had been earning his fourth cap for his country, all coming from March onwards, since being promoted up the international pecking order by Roberto Martinez.
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That is a result of his performances for Sporting, who sit at the top of the Primeira Liga standings having come through their opening eight league fixtures without suffering defeat.
Although the player is tied to Estadio Jose Alvalade until 2027, a release clause of €60m (£52.3m) is said to be present in his contract.
Manchester United - who have Portuguese compatriots Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes - have also allegedly earmarked Inacio as a chosen target to improve their backline.
Nevertheless, that may be dependent on whether they can reduce their current central-defensive numbers with failure to part ways with Harry Maguire last summer seeing Erik ten Hag only add veteran Jonny Evans to his ranks in that area on a short-term contract.
Darren Plant
