The search for a left-footed centre-back has been ongoing since last summer.It is no secret that Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is a favourite, but he has signed a long-term contract with his club until 2029 and is unlikely to see any movement in the latest transfer window.
Similar to the England defender, Sporting defender Gonçalo Inácio has been the subject of interest for a long time. The player also agreed a contract extension last summer, but has received interest from Premier League clubs other than Liverpool and could reportedly step up his game this summer.
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have been top targets for the Portuguese defender, who has been on the hot seat since last November, and are working behind the scenes to conclude negotiations within the next few weeks.
The centre-back, who has a promising future in Europe, has scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in 171 games, made his debut for Portugal in March 2023 and has been on the pitch for nine games, has been named in the EURO 2024 squad, and has been a regular in the national team for the last two years.
With Joel Matip leaving the team and Virgil Van Dijk approaching veteran status, a generational change in the centre-backs is inevitable. Along with Ibrahima Konate and Jarel Quanser, the Arne Slot regime is looking for a defender who can play long-term.
A modern centre-back who can also play at left-back and is a good ball handler, can Liverpool make a deal before other rivals get serious…?