Manchester United is determined to strengthen its defense in the January transfer market, and one of the names that has become the center of attention is that of Sporting CP’s talented 22-year-old defender, Gonçalo Inácio.

According to reports from The Sun, Manchester United have stepped up their efforts to sign Inácio, who has a €60 million release clause in his contract with Sporting CP. The Red Devils are eager to retain his services at Old Trafford and have begun taking steps to make it a reality.

The central defender that Manchester United wants to sign in January

Gonçalo Inácio is a product of Sporting CP’s youth system and was promoted to the first team in 2020. Since then, he has racked up 130 appearances for the Portuguese club and contributed 19 goals, an impressive feat for a defender.

In addition to his successes at the club, Inácio has also had the opportunity to represent the Portuguese national team on the international stage. This season, he has been in excellent shape, participating in eight games and standing out for his defensive solidity.

Manchester United have been monitoring Inácio closely for some time and the time has come to make a concrete move in January. The English club has experienced defensive problems in recent months, with injuries affecting several of their key defenders.

Lisandro Martínez will be out due to injury for at least three months, while Raphael Varane’s fitness has been a concern since his arrival at the club. With these challenges in mind, coach Erik ten Hag has been looking for reinforcement in the central defensive position.

Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Inácio in action and plans to do so regularly until the turn of the year when they will look to activate his €60 million release clause. With his ability as a left-footed central defender, Inácio could be an ideal replacement for Martínez and a valuable addition to Ten Hag’s squad as they look to strengthen Manchester United’s defense.