Manchester United line up swoop for star with £52m release clause, Bruno Fernandes knows him well

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Manchester United have set sights on a move for Portuguese defender Goncalo Incacio.

Sporting centre-back Goncalo Inacio is top of Manchester United’s transfer list for the January transfer window, report The Sun.

It is claimed United have stepped up scouting of the defender, intending to watch his performances closely over the next two months.

Inacio, 22, came through Sporting’s academy and has gone on to make 130 first team appearances for the club so far.

Goncalo Inacio release clause

Goncalo Inacio signed a new deal with Sporting as recently as August. The contract includes a £52 million release clause, which was an increase on his previous release clause of £34 million.

The new clause is not an unreasonable figure. It is around the same fee City paid for Ruben Dias in 2019.

United have been linked to Inacio before. In 2022 newspaper Correia da Manha linked United with a switch, before the club moved to sign Lisandro Martinez instead

Bruno Fernandes knows Inacio well

Goncalo Inacio is well known to Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes, who plays alongside him for Portugal. Inacio recently scored two goals in Euro 2024 qualifying, both from Fernandes assists.

Inacio told Mais Futebol: “He usually plays good balls, I tried to look for space and the ball ended up falling there.”

In the wake of Portugal’s record win, Sporting pointed out on Instagram how Fernandes was on record talking up Inacio as a big future prospect in 2019, the year before he left for Old Trafford.

Fernandes responded to this post by thanking Inacio for living up to his prediction, writing: “Thank you for not putting my words in vain.”

Manchester United defensive problems

Manchester United have struggled defensively this season, keeping only two clean sheets in seven Premier League games.

Injuries have been at the heart of this, with Raphael Varane having a spell out, and Lisandro Martinez now undergoing surgery and not expected to be back until 2024.

There is a need for youth in defence. Martinez, 25, is the team’s youngest defender. Varane is 30, while back-up Jonny Evans is 35, and only here on a one-year deal.

Victor Lindelof is 29, while Harry Maguire is 30. It feels like both players need to be moved on, no longer first choice, while Martinez’s injury problems add another issue into the equation.

Inacio is a top prospect, who is reasonably priced, with it possible United could even secure a deal below his release clause.