In a January 12 news report, leading Portuguese soccer media maisfutebol revealed a bombshell in the transfer market. It was reported that Manchester United of the English Premier League and Borussia Dortmund, the powerhouse of the German Bundesliga, have both shown great interest in Sporting Portugal's central midfielder, Inacio, and are planning to finalize his transfer within this month.
The report further reveals that Inacio's agent had face-to-face talks with Dortmund to discuss the possibility of a move. Meanwhile, Manchester United's pursuit of Inacio has been equally intense and their transfer plans have long been a public talking point.
Both Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund are said to be favoring a more flexible transfer strategy - loan first, buyout later. They hope to get a fuller picture of Inacio's ability during the loan period and, when the time is right, bring him in permanently for a fee of around €40 million.
It is worth noting that Inacio's contract with Sporting Portugal, which runs until 2027, contains a release clause of up to €60 million. This suggests that any club looking to sign Inacio outright would have to pay this hefty release fee. However, given that both Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund favor a loan-and-buyout approach, they may be able to bring in the young Portuguese talent at a lower cost without triggering the release clause.
