Dan Ashworth held Toon talks with £50m target prior to Man Utd approach – Report

Dan Ashworth was working on a deal for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio just weeks before his departure at Newcastle United, according to reports.

Jacque Talbot has reveled that our former sporting director actually held talks with the Portuguese international’s agent over the January transfer window to sound out a potential move to St James’ Park.

Speaking to Anfield Watch, Talbot adds that Liverpool have since joined the race for the highly-rated 22-year-old – who has a £50m release clause in his latest Lisbon contract – with Ashworth likely to recommend the player to Man Utd chiefs ahead of his move to Old Trafford.

It remains to be seen if Newcastle will maintain their interest in the versatile centre-back, who can also play at left-back, although Eddie Howe has adamant our transfer plans will be “unaffected” by Ashworth’s absence when speaking to the media last week.

Inacio has been regularly linked with a move to Tyneside over the past two years, with reports in Portugal claiming we had a £25m bid rejected during the January window in 2022.

Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly may well be a cut-price alternative that makes more sense from an FFP perspective, with the former Howe signing set to be available on a free.