Man Utd to rival Real Madrid for ‘great’ £51m Lisandro Martinez replacement, he knows Ruben Amorim well

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Among the several transfer priorities Manchester United have right now, the centre of defence is one which is least in need.

Manchester United are stacked in the centre-back department, although with the back-three system, one extra starting-level player would be welcomed.

Ruben Amorim has a solid quartet of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt to occupy the right and centre centre-back positions.

Manchester United’s centre-back depth 2024/25

The left centre-back position however has less depth with Lisandro Martinez the only senior option, as Godwill Kukonki appears to be the second choice – with Luke Shaw ever-injured.

However, the problem is that Martinez’s form has been poor which is proving detrimental as Kukonki is not quite ready – at 16 – to solve United’s problems.

So in a bid to solve this, Amorim has now placed a left-footed defender high on his transfer wishlist.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim wants Goncalo Inacio to join Manchester United

With Maguire’s contract being extended while both De Ligt and Yoro are on long-term deals – Amorim could do with competition and maybe even a replacement for Martinez.

Therefore, according to a report from The Mirror, Amorim is keen to see Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio signed in 2025.

Amorim promised Sporting he would not raid them in January, but a summer swoop for a couple of players is looking increasingly likely with Viktor Gyokeres high on United’s list.

Inacio is one of the 27 academy players Amorim gave a debut to at the Jose Alvalade Stadium – and bringing him to Old Trafford is an idea even Erik ten Hag agreed with.

United however would have to contend with Real Madrid who are also keen according to reports.

With a release clause of £51m, United would likely be signing him as a star player and chances are he would become exactly that.

• READ MORE: Who is Lisandro Martinez? Step inside the life of Manchester United’s tenacious Argentine

Inacio would be an upgrade on current Lisandro Martinez

If United were to sign Inacio, he would be in direct competition with Martinez for the starting berth on the left of the back three. Inacio has been lauded as a ‘great player’ by his teammate Adan who tipped him for Real Madrid.

It would see a player Amorim adores arrive and no doubt put real pressure on the Argentine – potentially even replacing him.

Inacio vs Martinez

When compared we can see that Inacio has better on-the-ball numbers, while Martinez’s defensive numbers are better. This is to be expected though, as Sporting dominates most games, while Martinez has played in a struggling United side.

Both are actually quite similar, however, Inacio being 6ft 1in tall is a real plus in his side of the argument, with Martinez’s height seeing him often dominated on corners and from crosses.

It would be a move that gives United elite depth regardless of who starts, and this is the level United should be aiming for.

It’s a move we would like to see this year.