Manchester United have placed Goncalo Ramos on their radar as the club has parted ways with Cristiano Ronaldo mutually.
The Benfica striker wrote the headlines when he scored this World Cup’s only hattrick against Switzerland in a 6-1 win for Portugal. It was only a matter of time before all the big clubs turned their attention toward the 21-year-old forward.
Goncalo Ramos is currently the top scorer in Liga Portugal after netting 9 goals in 11 appearances in the league (stats via Transfermarkt). His efforts helped Benfica top their Champions League group even with the presence of PSG and Juventus in it. His hattrick in this World Cup has acted as a catalyst in his career and he is set to make a big move very soon.
According to The Telegraph, United are looking at another Portuguese striker to replace the 5-time Balon d’Or winner. However, some outlets have reported that Benfica have set a price tag of €120 million for Ramos. The Eagles have already let Darwin Nunez leave in the summer transfer window and would not allow another top striker to leave, that too for a cheap price.
Ronaldo’s work rate and pressing were questioned quite often this season during his spell at Old Trafford. It was also evident that United played much better without Ronaldo under Erik ten Hag.
In addition to that, it could be sensed that the teammates were forcing the passes to him even if he was not in the best position. This combined with his low confidence at the moment led to his poor run of form recently.
Manchester United are set to enquire about Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos after the 2022 World Cup, reports suggest.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 15, 2022
The Portuguese contingent at United right now, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot could help Goncalo Ramos to settle in England. The striker does have the fluidity to play in the system of Erik ten Hag. However, with the talks of change of ownership going on, there is a possibility that the transfer can get stalled for some time. Nevertheless, United will be searching for a striker to sign in January.
Is Goncalo Ramos The Right Choice For Manchester United Going Forward?
There is no doubt about the scoring abilities of Goncalo Ramos. In fact, there is a chance he will be amongst the top scorers a lot more if he joins a club that is a proper title contender in the present.
His best abilities are finishing and holding onto the ball. Finishing is the bare minimum a manager can expect from a good striker and he does fulfil that. Whereas his ability to hold on to the ball can make him a good target-man for long balls. Many clubs try to press higher against United and Ramos could help United tackle that.
Ramos likes to play short passes and that does suit the style of play that Ten Hag uses. However, Ten Hag also prefers strikers who can create and there is still some road to cover for Ramos in that area. Also, the 21-year-old forward still needs a bit more experience before he justifies that price tag.
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United might have to evaluate before making him a priority signing. The Red Devils have other areas to improve as well and paying €120 million for a rotating striker can be a risk.
Manchester United do have the option of signing Ivan Toney who is a much cheaper option. Toney can also act as a backup striker when Anthony Martial is fit. It will be better for United if they wait till the January transfer window opens and then evaluate their choices while looking at their budget.
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