A conversation that took place in October between Fabrizio Romano and Caught Offside stated that Manchester United is looking to acquire a top centre back. Romano also hinted at the likelihood that a number of names may be associated with the club.
On the other hand, Liverpool does not appear to be interested in extending Joel Matip’s contract, according to sources provided by The Liverpool Echo. These claims indicate that Liverpool has not made any efforts to negotiate a new agreement for the 32-year-old defender. In the meantime, Liverpool has expressed interest in Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, a versatile player who is capable of playing both centre defender and left back positions. Kelly’s versatility aligns with Liverpool’s interests.
A number of players, such as Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice), and Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), were identified by Romano as possible targets for Manchester United. It is interesting to note that Inacio has attracted the interest of both clubs, with recent sources indicating that Liverpool is eager to win the 22-year-old player’s signature. Despite the fact that Real Madrid and Barcelona are also interested in Inacio, Liverpool is apparently in the lead and is prepared to activate his release clause. Liverpool’s valuation of Inacio is approximately sixty million euros.
The offer made by Liverpool includes a significant guarantee, which is that Inacio will be given a starting role at Anfield. With this certainty, Liverpool is able to differentiate themselves from the other contenders, which might put them ahead of the fight for the defender. It is possible that this commitment will have an effect on the starting lineup, which might result in Ibrahima Konate’s position being altered or Virgil van Dijk being moved to the right side of the field, which is a deviation from his typical position as a left center-back.
In the meantime, according to The Mirror, Manchester United appears to have focused their attention on Jean-Clair Todibo, who was formerly playing for Nice. The prospective transfer of forty million pounds might be made easier by the influence of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is in the process of purchasing a twenty-five percent share in Manchester United and also owns the French club Nice.
In spite of the fact that Liverpool’s interest in Inacio may pique interest at Old Trafford, Manchester United appears to have shifted their focus, giving Todibo priority for a possible transfer in January.
