Liverpool-linked Levi Colwill has agreed a new deal at Chelsea which will see Jurgen Klopp try out alternative defensive options such as Gonçalo Inácio.
Liverpool suffered a painful transfer setback this week.
Jurgen Klopp is urgently looking for a new centre-back, with Levi Colwill one of his top targets this summer, but after months of speculation over his future, the England centre-back has agreed a new contract with Chelsea (according to The Athletic) .
The 20-year-old wonderkid would have been an ideal addition for the Reds as he could have potentially bolstered Klopp’s last line of defense for the next decade. As well as being a top contender with plenty of potential, Colwill is also a left-footed player, unlike the options currently playing at Anfield. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joël Matip and Ibrahima Konaté are all right-footed, which is why Liverpool loved the Blues defender. Klopp would like to add a left-back to his ranks, but those players are notoriously harder to find on the transfer market and are therefore usually worth more.
Colwill has ticked virtually every box as a potential target, but it appears the Reds now need to consider new options ahead of the new campaign, with the summer window expected to close in about a month. It remains to be seen who Liverpool will chase after, but Gonçalo Inácio could be in talks again.
There have been hints in the past that he moves to Merseyside (according to Football Insider) and as Colwill is left footed with plenty of time on his side to develop further. The Portuguese defender is just 21 years old and, judging by his performances at home over the past 12 months, he has shown real composure in possession.
Indeed, Inácio finished second in the entire Primeira Liga for progressive passing last season – suggesting he is proactive and forward with the ball – ranked only behind Porto midfielder Otávio. Among the defenders he finished in first place, and at a considerable distance.
The Lisbon-born starlet looks natural when she’s expected to be making moves from behind, which should certainly help her prospects of moving to English shores in the coming weeks.
Additionally, it’s also worth noting that he reportedly has a release clause in his contract. According to Spanish outlet AS, Inácio’s signing could be secured for around $50m (£40m/€45m) this summer, which isn’t too bad considering current prices on the market.
In fact, Liverpool have already used the buyout clause cheat code twice this summer. Alexis Mac Allister was allowed to leave Brighton and Hove Albion at a reduced price shortly after the window opened thanks to a clause in his deal, as was Dominik Szoboszlai, who followed him to Merseyside from RB Leipzig
These stipulations are often exaggerated, but they seemed fair and reasonable in relation to Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, with Inácio set to become Liverpool’s third signing in the coming weeks. It would be unusual for the Reds to activate three release clauses in one summer, but they allow Klopp to improve his squad without spending too much money.
Newcastle United and Arsenal are also said to be following Inácio’s development (via The Metro), but the former has Sven Botman as a regular left-footed option in defense and the latter has Gabriel Magalhães. Liverpool are the only club in the Premier League’s traditional ‘Big Six’ without a left foot, a gap which should be filled this month.
Overall, with Colwill firmly off the table, Inácio could be next in line.
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