Both Liverpool and Manchester United are actively pursuing new center-back options for the 2024 season. Fabrizio Romano confirmed Manchester United’s quest for a top center-back during a conversation with Caught Offside in October, hinting at the likelihood of numerous names being linked to the club.
Contrarily, Liverpool appears to have no plans to extend Joel Matip’s contract, with reports from The Liverpool Echo indicating a lack of efforts to negotiate a new deal for the 32-year-old defender. Amidst this, Liverpool is showing interest in Bournemouth’s versatile player Lloyd Kelly, known for his adeptness at both center-back and left-back positions, aligning with Liverpool’s preferences.
Romano listed a few potential targets for Manchester United, including Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice), and Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen). Interestingly, Inacio has caught the eye of both clubs, with recent reports suggesting Liverpool’s eagerness to secure the 22-year-old’s signature. Despite interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, Liverpool is reportedly leading the race and is prepared to trigger Inacio’s release clause, valuing him at around €60m.
Liverpool’s enticing offer includes a significant guarantee: a starting position for Inacio at Anfield. This promise contrasts with the competition, potentially placing Liverpool ahead in the race for the defender. This pledge could impact the starting lineup, potentially affecting Ibrahima Konate’s position or prompting a shift for Virgil van Dijk to the right side, a change from his usual left center-back role.
On the other side, Manchester United seems to have shifted their focus to Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice, as per The Mirror. The potential £40m move could be facilitated by the influence of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is set to acquire a 25 percent stake in United and also owns the French club Nice.
While Liverpool’s interest in Inacio could ruffle feathers at Old Trafford, Manchester United appears to have directed their attention elsewhere, prioritizing Todibo for a possible January move.