Arsenal ‘gear up to sign the £51.5m release clause for Sporting Lisbon star defender’ – who helped dump the Gunners out of last season’s Europa League on penalties

• Goncalo Inaco, 22, is one of the undroppable players in Ruben Amorin’s squad 
• The Liga Portugal club are thought to be tracking a replacement for the defender
• Is there now huge pressure on Newcastle to finish in the top four? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off

Arsenal are closing in on the recruitment of Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, according to reports in Portugal. 

The Gunners had a front-row seat to the 22-year-old’s talents when they faced off with the Portuguese club in the Europa League last season. 

Mikel Arteta’s side eventually fell to Sporting after losing the second-leg of their round of 16 meeting on penalties, with Inacio one of the five players who were nerveless from the spot to send Arsenal out of the competition. 

But the north London could yet get their revenge by tempting the player to the Emirates during the upcoming January transfer window. 

As per A Bola, Arsenal are prepared to sign Inacio’s £51.5million (€60m) release clause to keep the defender out of the clutches of other Premier League sides with long-range intentions to the player, including Liverpool and Manchester United. 

Arsenal are preparing to sign the release clause of Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio as per reports

The Portuguese defender netted twice against Sturm in Lisbon’s latest Europa League match

Last season, Inacio helped dump Arsenal out of the competition scoring a winning penalty 

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Should Arsenal meet Inacio’s release clause, Sporting may have no choice but to let the player go – despite him proving a lynchpin in Ruben Amorin’s side this season. 

Inacio has made 23 appearances for Sporting across all competitions during their latest campaign, and scored three times for his club. 

The player has featured at his boyhood club since joining their academy at the age of 11, and was promoted to the first team three years ago. 

Ahead of his potential departure, the Portuguese club are thought to be readying his replacement, Famalicao starlet Otavio. 

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Sporting are thought to have lined up Otavio from rivals Famalicao to replace the defender

The 21-year-old has only spent a year in the Liga Portugal, but already distinguished himself for the eighth-placed side. 

Arsenal are gearing up for an active transfer window as they look not only to bolster their defensive ranks, but eye Brentford star striker Ivan Toney. 

Toney – who has been suspended for eight months after being charged with betting breaches – is thought to consider the north London side the front-runners for his signature. 

Mail Sport reported on Saturday that the forward is believed to be ‘really excited’ about the prospect of joining the Gunners shortly after he returns to competitive action on January 17.  

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