Manchester United are believed to be holding tabs on Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, as supervisor Erik ten Hag seeks to bolster his attacking choices within the January switch window.
What’s the phrase?
In accordance with journalist Fabrizio Romano – in his Caught Offside column – the Pink Devils are believed to be scouting the 21-year-old amid his glowing shows for each membership and nation, with the Premier League aspect trying to find a alternative for the departed, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The switch guru acknowledged: “Manchester United are contemplating many choices, we find out about Cody Gakpo however there are additionally others. They’re nonetheless in inside discussions to determine the best choice after which they may proceed. They’d their scouts watch Gonçalo Ramos with Benfica many occasions, however the identical occurred with different golf equipment.”
Any transfer for the 6 foot 1 marksman will seemingly not come low-cost for the Outdated Trafford outfit, nevertheless, with stories in his native Portugal suggesting that the Lisbon giants will solely enable the teenager to depart if his €120m (£103m) launch clause is met.
Preferrred Ronaldo inheritor
Ten Hag confirmed earlier this week that the membership shall be seeking to safe a alternative for the aforementioned Ronaldo following the 37-year-old’s considerably bitter exit final month, with the veteran hotshot having sealed an inevitable departure following his latest explosive interview.
The previous Ajax boss stated that the legendary determine is now within the “previous” with United now seeking to the “future” forward of the return to membership motion on the finish of the month, with it set to be one thing of a contemporary begin for all involved.
Because the Dutchman has made clear, nevertheless, a brand new centre-forward addition has now turn out to be a urgent precedence for the membership within the New 12 months, with it set to be a mistake to solely depend on the injury-prone presence of Anthony Martial for the rest of the marketing campaign.
The in-form Ramos might then show to be the best inheritor to Ronaldo in Ten Hag’s aspect, with the five-cap menace having seemingly already begun to take his compatriot’s place at worldwide degree.
The thrilling prospect was picked forward of his captain for the last-16 tie in opposition to Switzerland on the World Cup earlier this week, happening to provide a “stunning” show – within the phrases of The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – after netting a medical hat-trick in that 6-1 mauling.
Have been Man United proper to let Ronaldo depart?
Sure, completely!
Not for me!
That ruthless and standout treble got here on what was simply the Olhao-born gem’s first start for his nation at senior degree, having beforehand scored 14 occasions in simply 18 video games for Portugal’s U21 aspect lately.
Such type has additionally been replicated at membership degree with Ramos having scored 14 targets and chipped in with six assists in solely 21 video games in all competitions up to now this time period, after beforehand scoring eight occasions in a breakout season final time period alongside Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.
The highly-coveted asset – who was heavily linked with a transfer to Newcastle United over the summer time – is clearly a participant who’s on the up at current, with it trying as if this latest meteoric rise is just set to proceed shifting ahead.
After an period of signing ageing, short-term fixes in assault – with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Ronaldo – United might properly buck that pattern and safe a younger, long-term choice such because the Benfica starlet.
Amid what appears to be like to be a altering of the guard within the nationwide workforce following Ramos’ latest emergence, the devastating asset might now seemingly additionally step into Ronaldo’s sneakers on the Theatre of Goals.