Turned down Liverpool, costs 25 million and is Maguire's ideal replacement

It is no secret that Erik ten Hag no longer wants Harry Maguire as our team's first-choice defender, as the 30-year-old Englishman has been identified as one of the main candidates to leave Old Trafford during the next transfer window. That is why Erik ten Hag would already have in mind his possible replacement.

The Dutch tactician wants to acquire a new defender who can accompany Raphaël Varane to reinforce the team's defense, as everything seems to indicate that Harry Maguire will no longer be considered in the starting lineup. However, Maguire has already informed the club of his intention not to leave Old Trafford this summer, as he will try to fulfill his contract that binds him to Manchester United until 2025.

In view of this, Erik ten Hag has the ideal player ready to take Maguire's place and it is the 21-year-old Portuguese player, Gonçalo Inacio, who currently plays for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese league.

According to the Transfermarkt portal, Inacio is valued at 25 million euros, and although he is under contract until 2026, reports claim that Sporting would be willing to sell him for the right price. This aroused the interest of Manchester United and also Liverpool, however the player has already decided for which team he wants to play next season.

Gonçalo Inacio's decision

Faced with the interest of Manchester United and Liverpool, Sporting central defender Gonçalo Inacio would have preferred to go to Old Trafford rather than Anfield, according to the newspaper O'Jogo. This decision puts him one step closer to a move to the Red Devils, who believe his transfer is possible and would try to contact him in the coming days.