According to reports, Liverpool scouts went to watch Goncalo Inacio and Pedro Neto play for Portugal in their most recent international match.
Inacio is a target for Liverpool as they look for replacements for Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, both of whom are over 30. Furthermore, the Reds have lately entered the race for Wolves winger Neto, maybe as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool scouted both players while they played for Portugal against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, according to 90min. Inacio began and finished the 5-0 victory, with Neto coming on as a substitute.
Of course, just because a club is scouting a certain target does not guarantee that they will make a bid for them, but it is an important step in any process toward a prospective signing.
Inacio is one of four centre-back candidates under consideration by Liverpool. According to the article, their other options are Antonio Silva, who was an unused substitute for Portugal on Monday, Giorgio Scalvini of Italy, and Brazilian prodigy Lucas Beraldo.
Because all four potential targets are young, the profiles of each player convey a strong signal that Liverpool is searching for a long-term solution.
Despite this, Inacio has made 132 appearances for his club, Sporting CP. He has already competed in the Champions League and Europa League at the age of 22.
Another advantage of bringing in Inacio is that he is left-footed. Jurgen Klopp now lacks left-footed centre-backs to help balance his defense.
Inacio’s attacking compatriot Neto has already settled into the Premier League at Wolves. TEAMtalk knows that Arsenal are eyeing a January transfer for him as they look for protection behind Bukayo Saka, while rumors have also linked Liverpool with the 23-year-old.
Neto, who previously played for Braga and Lazio but only as a substitute, has made a name for himself with Wolves in 119 appearances, scoring 12 goals.
His contract at Molineux is set to expire in 2027, which also happens to be the year Inacio is contracted at Lisbon.
Salah’s interest in Neto may develop
Liverpool’s interest in Neto may grow if they lose Salah, who remains a major target to become the Saudi Pro League’s poster child after Al-Ittihad tried and failed to pull him away from Anfield this summer.
Neto, like Salah, is left-footed but prefers to operate on the right wing and cut inside onto his better foot, making him a suitable option for the Egypt international.
Having said that, his best Premier League season so far was when he scored five goals in 2020-21. Salah had 32 points in 2017-18. To put things in perspective, the 31-year-old has already scored the same number of goals as Neto’s best league tally this season.
Liverpool may require a little more senior replacement for Salah, which is why ties have been made with Bayern Munich’s former Manchester City player, Leroy Sane.
However, Liverpool is known for investing in young talent, so Neto is certainly being considered. Whether they go for him or Inacio first, if at all, will depend on which position they consider to be the most important.