Wolves closing in on transfer of £30million defender after season-long chase

Wolves are closing in on Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.

The 20-year-old wants the move to the Molineux and the two clubs are expected to meet this week to thrash out the finer details of his transfer.

Inacio's contract in Lisbon runs until June 2026 and contains a buyout clause of £39million plus add-ons. However, he will cost Wolves around £30m, with the Portuguese side needing to sell players this summer to finance a rebuild of their squad. The Portuguese Under-21 international has attracted interest from other clubs in England and Spain.

But it is Bruno Lage's men who are the furthest down the line to take him, with the club's desire to land him stretching back at least a season. Sporting were not willing to negotiate a fee for the player before but now their situation has changed it has opened the door to the West Midlands club.

Inacio joined Sporting's youth ranks from his hometown club Almada and has been capped at every age group for Portugal apart from the senior team.

Wolves are looking for their own rebuild this summer and have already begun by allowing three of the most experienced members of their dressing room depart.

Veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy, Morocco captain Romain Saiss and Brazilian defender Marcal have all been allowed to exit on free transfers since the end of the season.

While Ruddy and Marcal were only bit-part players in the last two seasons, the loss of 32-year-old Saiss creates a hole in the Wolves defence, with him having been a regular first choice under both Bruno Lage and his predecessor, Nuno Espirito Santo. Saiss is expected to join Besiktas in Turkey on a two-year deal, after Wolves elected against handing him a new deal at Molineux.

There also remain question marks over Joao Moutinho, who continues to discuss a contract extension with his deal up this summer, and talisman Ruben Neves, with club chiefs admitting that he could depart if the right offer is forthcoming. Sporting's Joao Palhinha, a long-time target, has been mooted as his potential replacement.