Arsenal chasing £52m-rated Sporting Lisbon star Goncalo Inacio after spate of defensive injuries

ARSENAL are keeping tabs on Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.

However, SunSport understands the Gunners are unlikely to be active in the January window in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

GettyArsenal are chasing a deal to sign Goncalo Inacio[/caption]

Mikel Arteta’s side have battled several injury issues already this season, especially in defence with full-backs Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu out until the new year.

Arteta and Arsenal are content with the defensive options they currently have, and would only be prepared to spend again should another serious injury crop up.

Yet having splashed the cash in the summer – forking out a combined £170m on Declan Rice and Kai Havertz – the North Londoners would prefer to stick rather than twist.

Centre back duo William Saliba and Gabriel are fully fit for now, while Jakub Kiwior and Ben White also provide alternative solutions in that position.

However, Arteta is likely to prioritise reinforcements at the back in the summer with 22-year-old central defender Inacio someone the North Londoners are monitoring.

Inacio made his senior Sporting debut as a teenager in October 2020 and has risen to become one of the most exciting prospects in the Primeira Liga.

He has also broken into the Portugal national team under Roberto Martinez, earning his first cap back in March.

Consequently, Inacio has a £52m release clause in a contract that expires in June 2027 and the Sporting are prepared to hold out for an offer close to that value.

The likes of Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested in the player, yet Sporting are expecting to keep hold of one of their prized assets until at least the summer.

Tomiyasu and crocked midfielder Thomas Partey are targeting a January 7 return to face Liverpool in the FA Cup third round before heading off on international duty.

Tomiyasu [calf] will represent Japan in the Asian Cup from mid-January, while Partey [thigh] could be away for a month as he competes in the African Cup of Nations for Ghana.

Mohamed Elneny picked up a calf knock away at PSV in the Champions League group stages earlier this month but should also be back soon ahead of Egypt’s AFCON campaign.

Timber – who has been out since August with an ACL injury – is hopeful of being involved in Arsenal’s Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Porto in mid-February.