From Portugal: Manchester City urged to sign Sporting Lisbon defender

Sporting Lisbon star Goncalo Inacio has been mooted as a possible transfer target for Pep Guardiola’s side, despite the current breadth of defensive talents amongst the ranks at Manchester City.

Over the past year, the Premier League champions have bolstered their defensive line remarkably, with the acquisitions of Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji from Bundesliga sides RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

However, this hasn’t stopped Manchester City from being linked with a potential new centre-back; Portugal international Goncalo Inacio.

The 22-year-old wasn’t short of suitors in the recent summer transfer window, with regular links to North West rivals Manchester United and Liverpool, however the Sporting star signed a new contract instead – resulting in the insertion of a €60 million release clause.

Despite the new release clause, Daniel Carriço’s comments, as per O Jogo, and relayed by Sports Witness, claims that this wouldn’t prove a problem for the Sky Blues, recalling the transfer of Ruben Dias for a similar fee.

The former defender said: “We saw it happen with Ruben Dias at City. Who knows if the same thing won’t happen with Inacio, a transfer for very high sums. A left-footed centre-half who is quick and good in the air are characteristics that make him even more valuable.”

Jose Boto added insight into the Sporting defender’s attributes, characteristics, and why he’d be a good fit at the Etihad Stadium.

He said: “Inacio is a very good builder, very quick at reading the game. He’s an intelligent player. He plays well and is ready to leave. He needs a specific team that likes to build from the back. Manchester City, for example.

“I think he’d make a good partner for Ruben Dias. He’s very comfortable on the ball. I don’t know if there will be many teams who can take him because he has very specific characteristics. I think he’s at a good time to make the leap.”

In previous transfer windows, Sporting have sold an incredible number of talents, with the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Nuno Mendes both signing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Matheus Nunes, who joined Manchester City on Deadline Day, left the Lisbon-based club to sign for Wolves before his £53 million transfer to the Etihad Stadium last year.

The midfielder marked his second Manchester City start with an assist for Erling Haaland’s goal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.