After contacting Newcastle United in January over the defender, Sporting requested that any possible trade for Gonçalo Inácio be postponed until the summer, according to a report published in the Record last month.
The 22-year-old Portuguese international has been a standout player for the Lions, and several European teams have taken notice of his impressive performances.
Newcastle is on this list because, according to today’s A Bola, they are still interested in signing the center back.
Since the beginning of the 2021–2022 season, Inácio has been a mainstay for Rúben Amorim, which aided in his debut for the national team. He is expected to be a member of Roberto Martínez’s team for the Euros; following that, the athlete may move teams.
The center defender’s contract, which runs through 2027, has a €60 million clause. The Primeira Liga team hopes to receive €100 million from the sales of him and Ousmane Diomande.
According to A Bola, additional sources have said that Sporting may take €40 million plus €20 million in bonuses for Inácio, provided that they are achievable. That does sound a little low, though.
Diomande has a €80 million clause and is also being actively watched by a number of teams, including Eddie Howe’s team.
The Ivory Coast international, 20, is allegedly demanding a fee that cannot be significantly lower than his release clause.
Faced with the possibility of losing Inácio and Diomande, Sporting have started searching the market for their replacements and this could please Newcastle in their pursuit of the duo.
Despite all of that, whether either would want to join Newcastle if they don’t have Champions League, or even Europa League, football is unknown.
