With a remarkable 135 appearances for his childhood club, Inacio has contributed 11 goals and eight assists and even boasts a Primeira Liga title to his name. Sporting currently holds a three-point lead at the summit of the 2023-24 standings, having secured 25 out of 27 possible points and conceding a mere seven goals in the process.
While Sporting's objective is to maintain their advantage over rivals Benfica and Porto and make a deep run in the Europa League, they face the potential of tempting offers for one of their standout performers. Inacio, aged 22, reportedly has a release clause of €60 million (£52.29 million) in his contract, with the expectation that interested clubs might wait until next summer to make a move.
However, according to reports from Fichajes, officials at Real Madrid have concluded that it's prudent to pursue the transfer during the midway point of the season. The report suggests that Carlo Ancelotti has urged club president Florentino Perez to prioritize a defensive signing due to Eder Militao's prolonged absence.
Militao sustained a serious knee injury in his first La Liga appearance of the season and is unlikely to return until at least the latter part of the campaign. Premier League teams, namely Liverpool and Manchester United, have also been strongly linked with a potential bid for Portugal international Inacio, but not until the summer.
At present, it appears that Real Madrid has a clear path to secure a deal with Inacio if they are willing to meet his buyout clause when the new year rolls around.
