Liverpool could well undergo a centre-back shakeup as soon as the January transfer window.
This season hasn’t gone to plan for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes despite a summer overhaul. The Premier League champions spent £450m improving the squad but are currently languishing in 12th place.
Big-money signings like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are yet to pay off – and the squad looks unbalanced. One of the areas most in need of attention is the centre of defence.
Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni for £26m from Parma over the summer but the 18-year-old was injured on debut. Combine the Italian’s ACL problem with a failure to land Marc Guehi and you can see why the Reds have got a shortage in the position.
Liverpool sanction January centre-back deal
Over the next couple of seasons we could see key names depart – with Ibrahima Konate out of contract in 2026 and Virgil van Dijk as well as Joe Gomez due to leave Anfield in 2027.
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Accordingly several centre-back names have been floated as potential arrivals – not least Marc Guehi.
But if the Merseysiders cannot land the Crystal Palace captain – either for a fee in January or on a free transfer in summer – then more names will come into focus.
Goncalo Inacio is on the Liverpool list
The Sporting CP stopper, 24, is capable of playing as a left-sided centre-back in either a back three or a back four and that adaptability is bound to appeal to Slot and Hughes.
Having played over 200 matches for the Lisbon side – and winning three titles – Inacio is now ready for the next step in his career. He is also a full Portugal international – winning the UEFA Nations League title under Roberto Martinez last summer.
A report in Caught Offside is now claiming that Liverpool are ready to sanction a move for a central defender in January with Inacio on the shortlist.
🚨🆕 #Liverpool 🇵🇹
Liverpool have targeted Sporting CP defender Gonçalo Inácio for the January window, considering him as an alternative to Marc Guéhi.👀Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG are also interested, while Al Ittihad and Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia are… https://t.co/RwluwnIl3Gpic.twitter.com/CVGytgKzpz
— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) November 25, 2025
