Liverpool 'present proposal for £51m defender' before transfer talks with agent

Liverpool could possibly see a breakthrough in the hunt for Sporting Clube de Portugal centre-back Goncalo Inacio. The Portuguese has previously been linked with the Reds as well as Manchester United.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, agent Miguel Pinho, who is also Bruno Fernandes' representative, is currently in England after the United captain committed his future to the club. As a result, it's said Pinho will now hold conversations with Liverpool over Inacio's future.

For now, those discussions are said to be informal though the outlet claims Liverpool remain interested in a swoop for the Portugal international. However, Inacio's signature will come at a cost.

The report adds Sporting will not let him leave for less than his release clause of £51million (€60m). Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, who was previously viewed as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp, is thought to have included Inacio's name on a list of players he does not want to lose this summer.

United have also been admirers of the 25-year-old but they have since signed Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt to strengthen Erik ten Hag's defensive options. Elsewhere, newspaper O Jogo state the Reds will present a proposal to Pinho for Inacio, although the player was not viewed as a priority in the transfer market earlier in the summer.

Prior to the defender signing a new deal last summer, Inacio's release clause was set at £38m (€45m), and O Jogo believe a fee in that region could tempt the Portuguese giants into doing a deal. Arne Slot is eyeing his first summer signing since taking over from Klopp.

After parting ways with veterans Adrian, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip, Inacio is being considered as a replacement for the latter. Martin Zubimendi looked set to become Slot's first signing but despite the club's determination to sign him, the Spain international opted to reject a proposal from Anfield and stay at Real Sociedad.