Liverpool pushed closer to signing £52m star | OneFootball

Liverpool have a lot of changes that need to be made to their squad this summer.

Arne Slot has massively underdelivered with most of their first-team squad also failing to meet the standards expected of them.

Of course, there are some exceptions to the rule with Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike putting in fairly decent performances.

However, their back line has been rather unimpressive which is likely one of the main reasons why Slot wanted to sign Marc Guehi so badly in the summer.

But, since almost every other Premier League club also needs new defenders, the market is tough which is why it's a good thing that Liverpool have seemingly been pushed closer to signing one of their reported targets.

Liverpool pushed into signing Goncalo Inacio after Murillo update

Murillo has long been linked with a Liverpool switch.

The Brazilian has been one of Nottingham Forest's best players this season with his performances helping them get to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

These performances have only increased the interest in the centre-back with Chelsea and Liverpool among the leading candidates.

However, since the defender has now signed a contract extension until 2030 with Forest, it feels like a move for the centre-back is almost certainly off the table.

On the face of things, this is far from ideal for Liverpool but, in reality, it allows them to divert their attention away from the 23-year-old and focus on other candidates such as Goncalo Inacio.

Goncalo Inacio would be a perfect addition for Liverpool this summer

Since a deal for Murillo is now off the table, it means that Liverpool will have to turn their attention elsewhere.

And, although Inacio hasn't played in the Premier League before, his experience in the Champions League would likely help him adapt to the physicality of England's top flight.

The Portugal international is also seen as one of of Sporting's best centre-backs and, for a fee worth around £52 million, he'd be an absolute steal.

Inacio is only 24 years old which means that he has plenty of room to grow and, with someone such as Virgil van Dijk next to him' he'd quickly become adjusted.

Of course, Giovanni Leoni, Ibrahima Konate and Jeremy Jacquet will also be fighting to be the Dutchman's partner but, with Konate's future undecided and the other two still rather young, it could be perfect for Inacio to fit into Slot's plans.

The summer transfer window isn't even open yet but, as long as the Reds get their business done early and get their new players integrated as soon as possible, the 2026-27 season should be much better than this one.

That is, especially if they get a deal for Inacio over the line.