Man Utd face missing out on Goncalo Inacio transfer as Premier League rivals send scouts to assess Sporting defender

LIVERPOOL have sent scouts to assess Manchester United target Goncalo Inacio.

The Reds are looking to hijack their Premier League rivals’ attempts to sign the Sporting Lisbon defender.

GettyLiverpool have sent scouts to watch Goncalo Inacio[/caption]

United have been long-term admirers of the 22-year-old, who has four caps for his country.

However, they now face strong competition from Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.

According to The Mirror, Jurgen Klopp sent scouts to watch Inacio play for Portugal during the recent international break.

Liverpool staff were in attendance for Portugal’s 5-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina last week.

Inacio had a quiet night as he partnered Manchester City’s Ruben Dias in defence.

Paris Saint-Germain are also understood to be interested along with United and Liverpool, who have reportedly already made an enquiry.

The report adds, though, that Sporting are not interested in selling Inacio before next summer.

However, he is rumoured to have a £52million release clause in his contract which would take that decision out of the club’s hands.

Inacio joined Sporting’s academy as an eight-year-old before progressing through their ranks and into the first-team.

He has since made 133 appearances for his boyhood club, including 11 so far this season.

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