According to reports, Manchester United are preparing a bid for Benfica centre-forward Goncalo Ramos to pair him up with their primary transfer target Harry Kane. The Red Devils are desperate to add firepower to their attacking lineup and have marked the Portuguese striker as a potential target.
The world took notice of Goncalo Ramos when he replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal starting line-up during their 2022 World Cup last-16 tie against Switzerland and scored a hat-trick. The Red Devils had already registered their interest in the forward earlier this season after the World Cup came to an end.
The 21-year-old is the highest goalscorer for Benfica this season, having scored 27 goals and assisted 12 times in 47 appearances in all competitions (stats via Transfermarkt). The Primeira Liga club has a contract with the centre-forward till 2026 which makes him a highly valuable asset for the 37-time Portuguese Champions.
According to Mirror, Manchester United are preparing to accelerate their pursuit of Goncalo Ramos with a potential record bid this summer. This bid could be in the region of £70 million-£100 million, including add-ons. He could be United’s most expensive player after Paul Pogba, whom they signed from Juventus for £89 million in 2016.
The Red Devils have set their eyes on Harry Kane as their primary target. The club desperately need a prolific striker with Anthony Martial being injured for the majority of the season and Wout Weghorst failing to rack up goals and assists. As part of their rebuild, United will offload quite a few players and Martial could be one of the players. It is also highly unlikely for Weghorst to sign a permanent deal.
Manchester United are preparing to step up their interest in Goncalo Ramos with a potential record bid as part of a major summer rebuild 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 10, 2023
Manchester United have outdone themselves this season. New manager Erik ten Hag has guided them to a trophy after six years and potentially another if they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Moreover, they have already secured Champions League football for next season. For the Dutch manager to succeed even more, the board has to support him with the funds to complete such big money deals.
Should Manchester United Break the Bank For Goncalo Ramos?
While it makes perfect sense to sign two strikers in the summer, it may not be as feasible for the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatar Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani are in a bidding war for the control of the club. United will need to accelerate this process to help Ten Hag complete the signings that he wants for next season.
The Glazers are not very easy sellers and are trying to get the best from their bidders. Moreover, Tottenham Hotspur may not let Harry Kane go so easily and they are likely to set a higher price tag. The 29-year-old striker has his contract expiring in June 2024 but it would be a better move for him to leave Spurs at the end of this campaign.
The Red Devils have many other areas to fix too and cannot afford to pour so much money on just one position. If Manchester United sign Goncalo Ramos, he is most likely going to be the second-choice striker at the club. It would not make much sense to break the transfer record for a second-choice player. The club may have to raise funds by selling more players, or find alternatives like signing free agents.
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Erik ten Hag has a good track record of developing young talent and could replicate that with Goncalo Ramos. The Portuguese had very good contributions in defeating Juventus and holding off PSG in both legs, two of the heavyweights, in the UCL this season.
The 21-year-old centre-forward is considered as one of the brightest prospects in Europe at the moment. Bringing him to Old Trafford could be a good move but they should proceed to sign him only if that doesn’t sabotage their transfer strategy for other positions.
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