The future of Harry Maguire at Manchester United will determine whether or not the Red Devils step up their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio, according to a report.
Maguire has been strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford since losing his regular place in the first team under manager Erik ten Hag.
The 30-year-old started just eight Premier League matches last season, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and left-back Luke Shaw all preferred ahead of him in the pecking order.
After being stripped of the captaincy over the summer, Maguire was tipped to seek pastures new and was allegedly close to joining West Ham United, but the England international has since dismissed such claims.
Man United's No.5 remains a peripheral figure under Ten Hag in the new campaign having featured in just four of the club's first 11 games in all competitions, and speculation over his future is still rife.
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A recent report claims that the Red Devils are determined to sign a new central defender in January, with Sporting's Inacio considered as a potential target.
However, according to The Mirror, Man United's pursuit of the 22-year-old is 'directly linked' to the future of Maguire as both players prefer to play as a left-sided centre-back.
The report claims that Ten Hag is against using Maguire in his favoured left-sided centre-back role, but the Dutchman has at times been forced to play him in that position due to the injury troubles experienced by left-footed defender Martinez.
Man United are said to view Inacio as a player who can provide competition on the left side for Martinez, but they will only ramp up their interest in the Portugal international if Maguire and Jonny Evans – who is out of contract next June – depart the club.
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Inacio joined Sporting's youth system at the age of 11 and has since developed into an integral first-team player for the Portuguese giants, making 132 appearances in all competitions.
The three-cap Portugal international has won the one Primeira Liga title and two Taca da Liga trophies with Sporting, and he has also gained valuable experience in the Champions League and Europa League, featured 12 times across both competitions last season.
Inacio, who has also been linked with Liverpool, is under contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade until June 2027 and is understood to possess a €45m (£38.8m) release clause.
Benfica's Antonio Silva, Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo, Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez are also believed to be on Man United's radar, but they are all right-footed options and favour playing on the right side of defence.
Oliver Thomas
