Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio is the latest player to be linked with a move to Arsenal during the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have already signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea in an initial £60million deal, with £5million worth of add-ons. Moves for West Ham United captain Declan Rice and Ajax starlet Jurrien Timber are also close to being finalised, moves that would take the north London club's summer expenditure north of £200million.
But Mikel Arteta's side do not appear to be finished yet either, according to recent reports. Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness ) have now claimed that Arsenal, along with Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United, are interested in signing Sporting centre-back Inacio this summer.
The 21-year-old, who is said to have a €45million (£38.6million) release clause in his current contract, has established himself as one of Portugal's most promising young defenders in recent times. In fact, he played every minute of his side's two Europa League round of 16 clashes against the Gunners last season, scoring a goal in the home leg.
Inacio is a left-footed centre-back, often operating on the left of a back three last term. Therefore, on first inspection, a move to the Emirates Stadium seems rather unlikely considering Arteta already has Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior to play that role.
However, if he is seen as having the potential to play left-back, a position that could be available in north London if out-of-favour Kieran Tierney ends up leaving Arsenal this summer, the reported interest may make more sense. Tierney struggled for game time during the 2022/23 campaign, finding himself behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order.
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Since then, he has been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United but former Gunners fullback Bacary Sagna has urged his old side to try and keep the Scottish international. "Kieran Tierney should not leave Arsenal, it's a long project," Sagna told Midnite earlier this year.
"I was in the same situation at Man City when I joined, I was benched more than what I was used to. I took it as a challenge, from the second year I was the most used player alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
"Tierney needs to fight for his position, he should take the Oleksandr Zinchenko signing in a good way because it will make him work harder and make him better. Life is full of challenges and Tierney is facing one now.
"He's still young and one of the best in the league, and probably the world in the future if he continues to work hard. Zinchenko brings something different and is a top professional."
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