Manchester United are now said to be readying a bid for a player who could solve their centre-back conundrum this summer.
It doesn’t yet seem as if Erik ten Hag’s future has been solved, an uncertainty that is likely to stretch into next week.
Bosses at Old Trafford are thought to be leaning towards handing Ten Hag one more chance, the final season of his three-year contract, but it’s a situation that could still ultimately go either way.
Of course, Manchester United’s recruitment team can’t stand still during this end of season review, and will be working diligently to identify targets capable of signalling a new era at the club.
By all reports, United want to focus their recruitment on signing young players with rich potential, deals that will stand the club in good stead long-term.
Perhaps Casemiro’s arrival in 2022 is being used as a case study of what not to do at the club right now, even if the £70m Brazilian had a remarkable impact initially.
However, the cost of that deal still lingers today, when Casemiro is certainly not justifying his wages.
Manchester United now readying bid for Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio
Turning the focus to the next generation of talent at Old Trafford, Portuguese sources are now claiming that the club are about to make a bid for Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio.
United have been linked with the 22-year-old for a long while, a player admired by several of Europe’s top clubs.
And Portuguese outlet Ojogo have now claimed that Man United are ready to move forward with a bid for Inacio, irrespective of Ten Hag’s future.
The report says that the club have already decided that the ‘dominant’ defender is one of the club’s priority targets, a player who can succeed regardless of who is in charge.
In a contract running until 2027, Inacio has a release clause of €60m (roughly £51m), but this information appears to suggest that United will submit a slightly lower bid.
Liverpool are also long-term admirers, who could rival Manchester United to a number of centre-backs this summer, given both are in the market.
Inacio has been included in Portugal’s squad for Euro 2024, having now made six appearances for his country, and scoring two goals.
Of course, signing Inacio would be in line with United’s transfer plan tailored around keeping Bruno Fernandes at the club – who has asked for reassurance moving forward.