Newcastle are planning to make an approach for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio if they receive bad news on Sven Botman’s injury, according to FootballTransfers.com.

Botman limped off with an ankle problem during the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend and, asked whether the Dutchman’s injury could force the Magpies back into the transfer market, manager Eddie Howe said:

“We’ll have to wait and see. We’ll speak to the medical team and see how bad the injury is first.”

Inacio has been a target for a number of teams, including Liverpool and Manchester United, but the 22-year-old signed a new contract only a couple of weeks ago.

A release clause does, though, remain active, so Newcastle could secure the Portuguese international’s signature for around €60m (£51.5m).

Newcastle were short of centre-half options even before Botman’s injury

The Magpies only have three recognised centre-backs in the first team squad, with Dan Burn being mostly used as a left-back since arriving on Tyneside.

It led to speculation that the club would enter the market this summer for reinforcements in that area, and Botman’s injury setback could now press them into action.

What other targets have Newcastle been looking at?

Inacio is, by no means, the only defender who has been linked with a transfer to St James’ Park in recent weeks. Earlier this month, it was reported that six other centre-halves have been shortlisted.

Bayer Leverkusen duo Edmond Tapsoba & Odilon Kossounou,  Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Torino’s Perr Schuurs and Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen were also under consideration.

A number of those players would be cheaper than Inacio and, considering the Financial Fairplay restrictions, it could well be the case that the Magpies are forced into considering an alternative to the Sporting Lisbon player. For now, though, everything depends on the prognosis that is given to Botman.