Liverpool to pay £42.9m release clause for wonderkid who will change Reds' fortune in transfer market: report

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during his side's 4-1 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League in April 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool have suffered a couple of transfer blows in the last week, after losing out on deals for both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.

Their luck could be about to change, however, with Liverpool set to pay £42.9m for a new player, according to reports. 

While their midfield remains an area of concern, the Reds are also intent on improving their defence, too, specifically at centre-back. With Joel Matip and Joe Gomez out of favour, and Ibrahima Konate an injury-risk, Jurgen Klopp wants to add more quality to the centre of his back four. 

Chelsea Unveil New Signing Moises Caicedo poses alongside his mother at Chelsea Training Ground on August 14, 2023 in Cobham, England - Liverpool lost out on signing him.

Both Caicedo and Lavia have opted for Chelsea over Liverpool (Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

According to Portuguese outlet Diario de Noticias, Liverpool will sign Goncalo Inacio from Sporting Lisbon, despite the 21-year-old Portuguese centre-back close to agreeing a new deal with his current side.

Inacio currently has a release clause of £38.5m but, once he signs his new deal, it will only rise to £42.9m. Liverpool are willing to match that price tag and bolster their defence, the Portuguese outlet suggests.

The Reds will need to act swiftly if they are to compete a deal, though, with Newcastle United, PSG and Manchester United reportedly all keen on acquiring his services, too. 

Liverpool target Goncalo Inacio of Sporting CP in action during the Liga Portugal Betclic match between Sporting CP and FC Vizela at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 12, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Inacio has come through the Sporting Lisbon academy  (Image credit: Getty Images)

A left-footed centre-back, Inacio would offer something that Liverpool currently don't have among their four options. While Virgil van Dijk largely operates on that side, Inacio's signing would offer the Dutchman more opportunities to rest as Liverpool compete in the Europa League, or simply move over to his more natural side.

Inacio came through Sporting's academy and has since made the step up into the first-team. He has impressed, too, with Roberto Martinez calling him up to the senior national team for his debut in March. 

Transfermarkt values Inacio at £25.7m.

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More Liverpool stories 

Liverpool transfer news is coming thick and fast as we enter the final few weeks of the summer window.

Jurgen Klopp has opened up about the club’s decision to launch a mega-money bid for Caicedo – but the Reds manager could be on his way out of Anfield sooner than anticipated. Meanwhile, Liverpool are targeting as many as four midfielders amid their struggles in the transfer market.

In our season preview of all 92 clubs, FourFourTwo discusses how Liverpool can get back to winning ways, with Salah proving pivotal in any future success this season.

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.