AC Milan have switched rather quickly from Antonio Silva to Goncalo Inacio as their main centre-back target, reports claim.
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Until a few hours ago, the trail leading to Antonio Silva seemed decidedly hotter. Then Milan hit a wall erected by Benfica, one they weren’t expecting to find. New head coach Marco Silva intends to focus on him, and the club want to renew his deal expiring in 2027.
Silva to Inacio
Milan have a central defender as their top priority after getting the striker they wanted. Gerry Cardinale’s goal is to fill the most important positions as quickly as possible, in order to guarantee Ruben Amorim a secure base. So, another Lisbon-based target has emerged.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claim ‘the hottest name right now’ is Gonçalo Inacio, the 24-year-old Sporting CP centre-back. He’s the other name highly sought after by Amorim, although in this case the price tag is rising since his contract expires in 2030 and he’s a regular starter in Portugal.
However, Milan’s corporate philosophy has changed this year compared to previous seasons, as the record-breaking purchase of Ramos clearly demonstrates. This doesn’t mean spending at will, but being open to a substantial and targeted investment in a single player.
Inacio is popular not only because he can play in a three-man or four-man defence, but also because he’s adept at building from the back and is left-footed. Amorim knows him well as they won four trophies together (including two league titles) in the Portuguese capital.
The player is also managed by the same agency as the coach, a factor that could be helpful. The price? It’s around €40m. However, the price for Tiago Gabriel is significantly lower. The 21-year-old at Lecce has been offered to the Rossoneri management, who will evaluate.
Meanwhile, Nicolo Schira reports the following: “Milan have opened talks with Sporting CP to explore the conditions of Gonçalo Inacio deal. The centre-back is ready to leave Sporting and has given his availability to Milan, who are now ready to make an attempt to satisfy Amorim’s request.”