Liverpool will almost certainly call off a €60m transfer plan after major news.
Reports in Portugal this week suggested that Liverpool are looking into a deal for Goncalo Inacio. They're far from alone in that and Apito Final claims Chelsea and Manchester United are also prepared to bid for the defender as he appears set to depart Sporting CP.
Liverpool have been linked with every top-level centre-back, of course. But it now seems that any deal for a new defender is off the table.
That comes after Ibrahima Konate publicly admitted that he’s close to a new Liverpool contract. The Frenchman’s deal is set to expire in the summer and it certainly appeared that he wasn’t going to sign a new one.
But very late in the day, it does appear that Liverpool will get a deal done. Doing so completely negates any need to spend another €60m on a centre-back – they've just done that to sign Jeremy Jacquet, of course.
Virgil van Dijk, Konate, Jacquet, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni is more than enough to cover the position next season. Especially once Leoni gets some post-injury games in.
And so we find it hard to believe that the club would still justify such a large amount of money on someone like Inacio. It surely makes a lot more sense to save that cash and spend it on other more-pressing positions.
The Konate deal is massive for Liverpool, saving them money and giving them a guarantee at the back. At the end of the day, that’s far more valuable than spending on Inacio.
Goncalo Inacio: Situation Summary
Sporting CP Dominance and Stats
As of 23 April 2026, Gonçalo Inácio remains a cornerstone of Sporting CP’s defensive unit. The 24-year-old centre-back has made 26 appearances in Liga Portugal this season, recording one goal and four assists across 2,243 minutes. His ball-playing ability continues to stand out in the Champions League, where he has maintained an 89% pass completion rate and contributed 49 ball recoveries over 11 matches. Notably, he helped Sporting reach the quarter-finals before their recent exit to Arsenal on 15 April.
Transfer Market and International Role
Inácio’s consistent form has kept him at the centre of transfer speculation, with his market valuation estimated at approximately €40–45 million as of March 2026. While he remains under contract at the Estádio José Alvalade, elite Premier League clubs continue to monitor his status ahead of the summer window. For the Portugal national team, he has become a fixed starter alongside Rúben Dias, earning 20 caps and scoring twice. After winning the UEFA Nations League in 2025, he is widely expected to be a key figure for Roberto Martínez’s squad at the 2026 World Cup this June.
