Manchester United were tipped to raid the Dutch league after Erik ten Hag’s arrival as manager but two stars of Portuguese football are instead being strongly linked with the club.
Goncalo Inacio and Matheus Nunes, both of Sporting CP, are reportedly major targets as the Red Devils set out their summer transfer business.
Naturally, Ten Hag is also looking back to old club Ajax and Jurrien Timber continues to be talked up for a move to United.
Matthijs de Ligt, a former player under the new United manager, is another option according to the latest reports.
Here is the latest Manchester United transfer gossip...
Goncalo Inacio
Newcastle and Wolves have been kicked back in the race to sign the Sporting centre-back, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.
A £39million fee will be enough to activate the 20-year-old’s release clause after two seasons in the Lisbon club’s first-team. It is said that United’s latest offer amounts to £35m up-front and £4m in add-ons.
The report outlines how the Red Devils are considered frontrunners for Inacio’s signature due to their greater pulling power than their Premier League counterparts.
Matthijs de Ligt
Having spoken out about “ongoing conversations” with Juventus, the defender detailed the team’s need to improve their standing after two years without the Scudetto,
La Gazzetta dello Sport name Manchester United as the most likely English club to make a bid for the defender, given his long association with former boss at Ajax Ten Hag.
Chelsea are also named as potentially interested once De Ligt holds talks with Juve about his time in Turin.
Matheus Nunes
Nunes is another Sporting star linked to Old Trafford with a fee of around £43m named by Correio da Manha as enough to sign the midfielder.
Manchester City are also in the hunt but the Portuguese side are said to want a player on loan in return for Nunes, raising questions as to who exactly they could send to Lisbon as part of the deal.
Should either side wish to forgo the loan demand, the midfielder’s release clause stands at just over £50m.
Jurrien Timber
Ajax defender Timber continues to be linked with United amid contrasting reports over his transfer decision.
Dutch colleague Daley Blind, formerly of the Red Devils, has called on the “unbelievable” youngster to remain in Amsterdam.
“He is wise enough to make his own choices,” Blind said. “I don’t need to explain what kind of talent and player he is. How important he is to us.
“What he shows from the start though is unbelievable. Of course, as a teammate, I hope he stays for another year. I cannot influence that. I can only say that Ajax must do its best to keep him.”
