Liverpool are reportedly ‘admirers’ of Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio as they begin their long-term replacement plan for Virgil van Dijk.
The skipper has one more year on his £400,000 per week contract, expiring on 30 June 2027. Van Dijk has been an incredible leader and servant for the club, helping usher in a period of dominance and silverware alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah.
Signed in 2018, he will complete nine years at the club next year before he opens a new chapter in his career.
The £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for the Dutchman is now viewed as a huge bargain. The 33-year-old has been the best defender in the world for close to a decade now, and whoever signs him will be blessed indeed.
It now appears as though Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Inacio, who has been crucial to Lisbon’s unlikely Champions League success this season.
Gonçalo Inácio dominating in the air ?#UEL pic.twitter.com/jhgbfhyyKY
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) June 6, 2025
Transfer latest on Goncalo Inacio with Liverpool keeping a close eye on the Lisbon leader
According to claims from Football Insider, Liverpool are assessing Inacio ahead of a potential move to Anfield in the summer.
The Reds have already committed £60m to signing Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet, so there will be limited funds available for a second marquee centre-back signing, but with van Dijk likely to leave at the end of the 2026-27 season, there is need for a replacement in the short-term.
Football Insider reports: “Goncalo Inacio is on Liverpool‘s radar ahead of the summer window as they plan to sign a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, Peter O’Rourke reports: “(Inacio) is a player that a number of Premier League clubs have been linked with over the years.
“Manchester United have been linked with him…Chelsea too. Obviously, Liverpool are also admirers of Inacio, who is a left-sided centre-back. There aren’t many top ones available, but he is one of them, for sure.
“They’re going to have to replace Virgil van Dijk sooner rather than later, you would imagine, and Inacio could be an ideal replacement for him, as he can play on the left side of that central defence.
“He’s got good pedigree at international level and has played Champions League football as well.”
Claims from AS claim that Inacio has a €60m (£52m) release clause in the contract he signed with Sporting in December 2026, but this asking price is described as ‘negotiable.’
Gonçalo Inácio despierta intereses de los grandes.
Su gran temporada en el Sporting, especialmente en Champions, ha llamado en Inglaterra (Chelsea, Liverpool y Manchester United) y España.
Su cláusula asciende a 60M€, pero negociables.@diarioas https://t.co/CdxltQQF6D
— Eduardo Burgos (@edu17burgos) April 14, 2026