Arsenal are reportedly preparing to trigger the release clause in the contract of Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.
The Gunners have already faced the Portugal international during last year's Europa League last 16, where Sporting knocked Mikel Arteta's men out on penalties after a 3-3 draw on aggregate.
During a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Inacio headed home one of 14 goals he has scored in 143 matches for Ruben Amorim's side across all tournaments, while he has also contributed eight assists from the back.
Also boasting a respectable two goals and two assists from five outings in a Portugal jersey, 22-year-old Inacio - who stands at 6ft 1in tall - has quickly become one of Europe's most in-demand defenders.
Inacio has already contributed three goals from 21 appearances in all competitions during the 2023-24 campaign, including a brace against Sturm Graz in Thursday's Europa League victory as Sporting finished second in Group D.
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Amid growing interest in his services from Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting extended Inacio's contract in August, and his current terms are due to run until 2027.
However, according to A Bola, there is a €60m (£51.6m) release clause written into the 22-year-old's agreement, and Arsenal are expected to trigger that option in the January transfer window.
The Gunners have supposedly moved to the head of the queue for Inacio's signature, and Sporting will be powerless to prevent him from leaving if Arsenal indicate that they are willing to pay the clause in full.
The report adds that Arteta's side are set to move forward with a full proposal in the coming weeks, and they have been keeping their eye on the Portugal international since the start of last season.
Ahead of Inacio's anticipated exit in 2024, Sporting have reportedly already identified the 22-year-old's successor in the shape of Famalicao's Brazilian starlet Otavio, although the 21-year-old is wanted by several other unnamed clubs.
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Arsenal had already reinforced their backline over the summer with the acquisition of Jurrien Timber from Ajax, but the versatile Dutchman sustained a potentially season-ending ACL injury on his Premier League debut.
Takehiro Tomiyasu - who has excelled as a right-back this season but can also cover centrally - has also been ruled out for a number of weeks with a calf injury, leaving William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes slightly short of cover.
With Timber and Tomiyasu out, Jakub Kiwior represents Arteta's only alternative senior option in the heart of the backline, but the Poland international has been linked with a January loan move back to Serie A amid his lack of game time.
Arteta also has 19-year-old Reuell Walters at his disposal and named the teenager on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League draw with Sevilla, but he is yet to make his first-team debut for the Gunners.
Arsenal can rise to the top of the Premier League table for at least a couple of hours when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
