Barcelona play down links with 24-year-old Portuguese centre-back | OneFootball

Earlier today, word broke that Barcelona were emerging as dark horses to sign Goncalo Inacio from Portugal this summer.

The player, after all, has been linked with a move away from Sporting for a long time now and has a relatively affordable release clause priced at €60 million.

That sum, needless to say, is not out of Barcelona’s reach and word spread that the Catalans are considering a surprise move for the centre-back.

Likely a false rumour

As reported by Fabrizio Romano in a recent update, there is nothing agreed between Barcelona and Inacio as matters stand, and a transfer is not on the cards.

Not a priority for Barcelona. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

In fact, the Italian journalist goes on to confirm that there is no advancement from the Catalan club towards the Portuguese player, nor is the situation close to an agreement of any sort.

Club sources are further playing down the links with the defender and insist that he is not a target for the club this summer. Needless to say, that distances the player from the club once again.

Will require a quick decision

AC Milan are already advancing towards the signing of Inacio and are working hard to ensure they can complete the formalities at the earliest.

In that sense, Barcelona do not have long to act if they indeed see the player as a target. After all, just over a week remains in the summer transfer window and they still have no strong links with any centre-back.

Castello Lukeba has emerged as a target. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

Ronald Araujo’s departure has left a void in central defence, and Inacio would be a good partner to Pau Cubarsi given that he is a left-footed ball-playing option.

In any case, Deco and Co. must make a decision very soon for they are running out of time. With every passing day, the signing of a top player becomes exponentially more complicated.

The only other names Barcelona have been strongly linked with are Aymeric Laporte and Castello Lukeba, with the latter sounding more strongly in recent days. 

Signing him, however, is expected to be equally, if not more expensive than Inacio and it remains to be seen how matters progress.