PSG could reportedly rival Newcastle United for another top talent as the French champions eye Sporting Lisbon star Goncalo Inacio as a replacement for Presnel Kimpembe, who Chelsea are interested in signing.
According to Fabrizio Romano, sporting director Luis Campos is a big fan of the Portuguese defender, with Inacio lined up as a replacement for Kimpembe who, according to the Daily Mail, has been subject to a £40m bid from Thomas Tuchel’s side as they look to rebuild their defence.
PSG are not the only side interested in Inacio, though, as Newcastle were heavily linked with the 20-year-old centre-back in the January transfer window, with reports this summer suggesting that the Toon are still on the trail to sign the Sporting talent, who last season enjoyed a breakout year.
Naturally a centre-back but capable of playing as left-back, Inacio is viewed by many as Portugual’s next top defender, with the Almada-born titan eyeing a spot in Fernando Santos’ squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup this November.
And this summer is set to see the youngster make his first major move of his career, with Newcastle and PSG now vying for the defender’s signature, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that the Toon should be wary of the pulling power the French giants have.
Indeed, PSG have already beaten Newcastle to the signing of Hugo Ekitike this summer, a striker who looked certain to join the northeast Premier League side before Christophe Galtier pipped the Toon to the teenage attacker to secure the French youngster’s signature.
Newcastle can’t allow lightning to strike twice for PSG with signing Inacio
Newcastle might be the richest club in world football, but their newfound wealth doesn’t guarantee that they will win the race to sign every player they are interested in, yet the lessons learnt from the Ekitike saga should help the Toon in their chase to beat PSG to Inacio.
The Portuguese defender could be an outstanding long-term addition to the Magpies, and with Newcastle already landing Sven Botman, Inacio could be the final piece of the puzzle in Howe’s plan to build a backline that could play and develop together for years to come.
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