Manchester United are set to face competition from Real Madrid in the race to sign Portuguese defender Goncalo Inacio, according to O Jogo.
The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the centre-back and they were linked with him during last summer’s transfer window.
Inacio ended up signing a new contract at Sporting Lisbon to increase his release clause to €60 million, but he is still expected to leave.
O Jogo claim that United and Real Madrid are both interested in the talented central defender, but Sporting are in no rush to sell him.
The club plan to hold out for his buy-out clause and won’t accept any add-ons to make up for the figure.
Last winter, Tottenham Hotspur signed Pedro Porro on loan with an obligation to buy. Sporting have no interest in a similar transfer proposal.
Inacio link with Man Utd could be agent-driven
United have been regularly linked with the Portuguese for the past year, but they are yet to make a formal proposal to sign him from Sporting.
There could be interest but as things stand, the club have Antonio Silva, Jean-Clair Todibo and Edmond Tapsoba ahead of him in their wishlist.
In our view, the speculation is agent-driven. Inacio shares the same agency as Bruno Fernandes. They are probably looking to bring him to Old Trafford.
Whatever the case, United seem unlikely to splash the cash until the summer, considering they are in a difficult situation with Financial Fair Play.
The Red Devils are unlikely to consider a high-profile permanent sale in January. United will certainly wait until the summer to spend big once more.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
