Milan to bid €40m for Sporting defender Gonçalo Inácio in January

Milan plan to bid €40m for Sporting defender Gonçalo Inácio in the January window, according to Corriere dello Sport. Calciomercato goes further and says the clubs have already agreed the fee.

The two versions do not quite match. Corriere dello Sport describes an intended offer, while Calciomercato describes a done deal, and neither club has spoken publicly.

Milan tried to sign the 25-year-old last summer. Sporting were, by all accounts, willing to sell at the same price but could not find a replacement in time, and the move fell through. Barcelona have also been linked with him in the past.

Rúben Amorim, who worked with Inácio at Sporting, is reported to rate him highly. Sports.ru, citing Corriere dello Sport, says Amorim believes the defender has the technical skills the team needs and has improved markedly since they worked together. Amorim gave him his first-team debut, and the same agency represents both men.

Inácio came through the Sporting academy and has made around 200 appearances for the club. He has 21 caps for Portugal. This season he has played 6 league games, scoring once and collecting 2 yellow cards.

If the fee is as reported, the deal would depend on Sporting having a centre-back ready to replace him before the window shuts, which is what stopped it in the summer.