Manchester United line up £52m transfer for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio – Paper Round

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could sign defender Goncalo Inacio this winter to provide cover and competition.

“SunSport understands a United scout has been sent to Lisbon and told to closely monitor the Portuguese international over the next couple of months ahead of launching a bid in the January transfer window.

“The scout has been ordered to watch the 22-year-old in person at least three times a month – he was at Sporting’s game at the weekend and will also take in this Thursday’s Europa League clash with Atalanta.

“He recently signed a new deal with Sporting but has a €60million (£52m) release clause which United are prepared to match.”

Chelsea are keen to take out a loan that could be worth a quarter of a billion pounds, after their huge outlay.

“Staggeringly, the chairman has presided over an astonishing £1billion spend in transfer and loan fees on players since taking the reins in May 2022. In his first 17 months in charge at Stamford Bridge, it has resulted in an unprecedented turnover of players, including 30 first team signings.

“The Blues already have £800million in loans in place but have the option to take the limit on these up to £1.05billion. It has also been suggested that lenders attended Chelsea’s recent clash with Aston Villa in the Premier League, although no concrete decision has been on whether to borrow more money.

“On top of the club’s major investments in the transfer market in recent times, Boehly and his partners are also considering the possible redevelopment of Stamford Bridge. In a separate deal, the two-time European champions also have raised £500million of ‘subordinated debt’ from Ares Management recently.”

Bayer Leverkusen are not concerned by the prospect of manager Xabi Alonso leaving to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

“Liverpool legend Alonso has been a first-team manager for less than a year after taking over Bayer Leverkusen last October, after managing Real Sociedad’s B team for three years before.

“A two-time European champion with Spain, Alonso spent six seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu as a player, winning LaLiga in 2012 and then the Champions League two years later during Carlo Ancelotti’s first spell at the club.

“However, Rolfes insists they are not worried about Alonso jumping ship just yet, given that he signed a new deal recently which keeps him at the club until 2026.”

Premier League referees may be prevented from working abroad after two officials made an error during Liverpool’s match against Tottenham on Sunday.

“Darren England, the VAR for Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Dan Cook, the assistant VAR, were part of a group of English referees who officiated Sharjah’s match against Al-Ain in the UAE on Thursday.

“England was subsequently replaced as the fourth official for Sunday’s Premier League draw between Nottingham Forest and Brentford after he failed to overturn the incorrect decision to disallow Luis Díaz’s goal for Liverpool on Saturday, while Cook has been stood down from Fulham’s clash with Chelsea on Monday evening.”