By Jack Leon
As we roll into the January window, the rumours are already starting to fly in. The Reds are flying in the 23/24 campaign with the only loss being the robbery against Spurs earlier in the season. With some players getting older and closer to the end of their contracts, Liverpool are already looking to bolster their squad with a new left-footed centre-half by the name of Gonçalo Inácio from Sporting CP.
The 22-year-old Portuguese defender is an academy graduate of Sporting CP and has only missed two matches all of last season and this season. Linked to both Anfield and a move to fellow title chasers Arsenal, it looks certain that Inacio will be on the move in the future.
Whenever there is gossip surrounding LFC and Portuguese football, the RedmenTV group reach out to Aaron Barton to gain some knowledge about it. This week on Expert Insight, Dan is joined with Aaron to talk about a potential signing of Gonçalo Inácio, and how he would give us that extra kick to make the squad even stronger.
What Would it take for Liverpool to Sign Inacio?
“He plays in a back three so Inácio was always the sort of straight in there, left-footed, left-sided and had impressed ever since. It’s crazy to think that he’s coming up to 145 appearances for Sporting already, considering his age.
“With Inácio he just took to it with so much ease that it was sort of, you blick and you’re almost like a first-team regular, you fast-forward a bit and he’s a Portugal international now with five appearances for the national team.
“He was part of the team that won them the title and really helped them establish themselves as one of the top two, three teams [in Portugal]. I think with the way that Liverpool plays at the moment and the way that Trent operates the space, it leaves space to emerge into that back three.
“He has played as a left-sided centre-back a few times in a back four…he’d have to get to grips with what happens when Trent goes into midfield but he’s passed every other test with flying colours so far.
“Get him into those sort of positions where he feels comfortable and he’s got space with the ball because his passing range is just amazing. His ability with the ball is tremendous. He’s clearly someone who is comfortable coming out of the defence with the ball.
“He’s tall and has got a decent physical presence. The physicality of the Premier League and coming up against some of the more physical strikers will be something he’ll have to adapt to. His strengths lie in his ability to pick a pass, his defending is spot on.
“The actual centre-back position on the pitch where you’d expect him to be is only 13% of his touches, in front of the halfway line on the left-hand side is 14%, and on the touchline is 18% of his touches. Working within different systems and feeling comfortable, we haven’t really seen as much of it because the evidence hasn’t been there.”
‘Gonçalo Inácio would be ready for Liverpool transfer!’ – Portuguese Expert on Reds Target
Redmen Reacts
With the Liverpool rebuild fully in progress, the Reds are already planning on bringing even more players in to help strengthen the squad. Over the summer was a complete scrap and rebuild of the midfield, whereas the next area of progression seems to be the defence. Aaron has laid out what an incredible player Inácio is already, which can be exciting to eager teams willing to pay the release clause.
Because of the new system of play, Inácio seems to be a great puzzle piece for the future to plug into that left-footed, left-sided centre-back role while in possession. In addition to how reliable his fitness is, his ability with the ball seems to be one of his bigger traits. Only time will tell if Liverpool pulls the trigger on this amazing youngster, but what a player they’ll have on their hands if the transfer lands.
