Arsenal plot £51m transfer swoop that will give them winning over Porto after Champions League draw
Arsenal could look to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad with new signings in the January transfer window. The Gunners have had to deal with a number of injury concerns throughout the first half of the season – with the likes of Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Jorginho all currently sidelined.
Arsenal have shown they are willing to do business in January if they find the right player and agree a suitable fee. Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior all arrived at the Emirates Stadium mid-season and have helped improve the depth of options available to Arteta.
After spending over £200million in the summer, the Gunners could be forced into selling before they can bring new signings into the club in order to abide by Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Partey, Aaron Ramsdale and Mohamed Elneny have all been linked with exits from the Emirates Stadium and would raise a significant amount of funds to reinvest into new players.
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Arsenal are plotting a move to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio. The Portuguese defender has a £51million release clause and has been previously linked with a switch to Liverpool.
The Gunners are currently locked in a fierce Premier League title race with the Reds – along with Aston Villa and Manchester City – and could look to sign defensive reinforcements to ease the load on William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. The report adds that Sporting are already lining up a replacement for Inacio, targeting Famalicao centre-back Otavio.
There is an added incentive for Arsenal to sign Inacio from Sporting, though. Whilst they would stop Jurgen Klopp’s side from signing the Portuguese defender – it would also benefit the Gunners ahead of their Champions League knockout tie against FC Porto later this season.
Inacio has been a stalwart at the back for Sporting over the past three years – having made over 140 appearances for the Portuguese outfit. The 22-year-old has plenty of experience in facing Porto and could help Arsenal in progressing into the Champions League quarter-finals with his knowledge of their opponents.
