Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande and Goncalo Inacio are expected to leave this summer, and Manchester United are one of the teams keeping an eye on them.
The outstanding league season that Sporting has had is mostly due to the central defenders. At the top of the league standings, the team is now one point ahead of Benfica thanks to the brilliant form of their defenders.
According to Record, Sporting are reportedly searching for new centre-backs this summer, with Diomande and Inacio both reportedly heading out the door.
Release clauses in the contracts of Diomande and Inacio presently stand at €80 million and €60 million, respectively.
The Red Devils are among the teams that have been “in and out” of Sporting games to track the development of the highly-regarded defensive duo, according to the Record.
With uncertain long term futures of defenders Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, the club is expected to invest in new defenders.
Varane could be on his way out of the club soon as the club has still not triggered a one-year extension option in his contract. The French defender will only stay at the club if he decides to take a pay-cut on his wages.
Premier League clubs like Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea are also keeping an eye on the Sporting defenders and the summer transfer window could see all these clubs go head to head to win the race to sign the defenders.
Other defenders that United are tracking are; Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini and Lille’s Leny Yoro.
