Liverpool to step up Goncalo Inacio interest in January?

During the early weeks of the season, Klopp has often been forced to cope with a depleted backline due to injuries and suspensions, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate both spending time out with hamstring issues.

As such, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have been afforded ample opportunities in the backline, and the latter has ousted Konate to become Virgil van Dijk's regular Premier League partner in recent weeks.

In addition, Jarell Quansah is enjoying a breakthrough season in the heart of the Reds' backline and recently earned his first call-up to England's Under-21s as a reward for his progress.

Over the summer transfer window, Liverpool allowed Rhys Williams, Sepp van den Berg and Nat Phillips to make loan moves elsewhere, and they were tipped to beef up their rearguard ranks with a new arrival.

However, with the midfield overhaul taking priority, Liverpool did not bring in a new centre-back for the 2023-24 season, although Wataru Endo has been deployed in such a position in the past.

With their sights now set on the January transfer window, Football Insider claims that Liverpool could try to prise Inacio away from the Primeira Liga should injuries pile up in the coming months.

The report claims that Liverpool were keen to bring in a new left-sided defender during the summer window but failed to do so, and the 22-year-old Inacio fits the bill in terms of what Klopp is looking for.

The Portugal international has spent 11 years on the books with Sporting since being signed to their academy ranks in 2012 and has gone on to make 131 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Inacio has scored 11 goals and set up eight more for Ruben Amorim's men in that time, and he has not missed a single minute for Sporting in the 2023-24 campaign so far.

The 22-year-old has already collected four major honours with Sporting, playing a crucial role in their 2020-21 Primeira Liga title triumph, and he extended his contract until 2027 back in August.

While Sporting are determined to keep hold of Inacio as they target Primeira Liga glory, the club would be powerless to let him leave if an interested party meets the £52m release clause in his deal.

As such, Amorim's side supposedly believe that they are fighting a losing battle to keep hold of Inacio, who is also believed to be on Manchester United's radar ahead of a possible January swoop.

The defender made his Portugal debut in March of this year, and he scored his first two goals for his country in a 9-0 Euro 2024 qualifying thrashing of Luxembourg in September.