Manchester United Eyeing Move for Benfica Striker Goncalo Ramos

According to the latest reports in England, Manchester United are interested in signing Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and could make a move in January. The Red Devils are looking to boost their attacking line-up and have identified the Portuguese forward as a potential option.

Erik ten Hag is looking to add some firepower to his squad in the forward position as Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to leave at the end of the season, and Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have shown to be susceptible to injuries in the early part of the ongoing campaign.

Newcastle United were trying to make a move for Ramos during the recently concluded transfer window but will no longer make an approach after adding Alexander Isak to their squad. However, the Red Devils could face competition from Bayern Munich, who are also said to be keeping a close eye on the striker.

According to The Sun, Manchester United are keen on adding Goncalo Ramos to their squad. The move for the Benfica forward could come as early as January but Ten Hag is believed to have his hands tied ahead of that window, with the Glazer family reportedly planning for a quiet window after spending over £200 million in the summer.

Player Profile

Goncalo Ramos has taken over as Benfica’s main striker this season following the exit of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool. The Portuguese forward has been prolific with eight goals and six assists in all competitions so far (stats via transfermarkt).

The 21-year-old came through the youth setting at the Portuguese club and joined in 2013. For the youth squad, he scored 15 goals in 37 games which earned him the promotion to the first-team. He has also played for the Portugal U-21 team and is on the right trajectory like some of the players who went on to become world-class players like Ronaldo, Raul Jiménez and Nani.

Gonçalo Ramos finalizou de calcanhar para aumentar a vantagem do Benfica 👌

(via @vsports_pt) pic.twitter.com/YrAEPqnAKv

— B24 (@B24PT) September 18, 2022

Ramos is a forward who fits the profile of a striker in terms of his work rate. He presses aggressively and is not afraid to put in a tackle on the opposition. He likes to link up with the midfield and makes proactive movements which can always put a striker in a goal-scoring position like Karim Benzema showcased for Real Madrid last season.

The Benfica striker is just over 6 feet tall and also appears to be strong physically, so he can get into an aerial duel with a defender. Ramos is capable of using his height as an advantage by latching onto a great cross to score for the team.

At just 21-years of age, the Portuguese has bagged a hat-trick in the Champions League and is already attracting interest from big European clubs. He has made a good call by staying at Benfica and having a full season to prove himself before making a move. It will be interesting to see how things develop for Goncalo Ramos and Manchester United will be monitoring him as the season progresses.

With a contract at Benfica until 2026 and a release clause of €120 million, the Portuguese club are likely to demand a big fee for their striker, similar to Nunez, and that will make it difficult for the Red Devils to make a move in January if Glazers do not want to spend.

Ramos is a player who fits the profile of a potential great forward for a Premier League side and if he keeps up the form, he would be joining the likes of other Portuguese players who made the big move to the English top-flight.

Follow AD for the Latest Transfer Updates for Manchester United.