Manchester United are expected to sign a new centre-forward this summer, and another name has joined their list of possible targets
(Image credit: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag has reportedly given his approval for Manchester United to sign hotshot Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos this summer.
The Portuguese international – who truly announced himself at last year's World Cup – has been in prolific form for club and country this season, scoring 27 goals in 43 appearances.
United are set to be in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, having parted ways with Cristiano Ronaldo in November and loaned in Wout Weghorst as stop-gap solution.
Ramos has helped Benfica reach the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League (Image credit: Joao Rico/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
According to Spanish outlet AS, Ten Hag has 'given the go-ahead' for United to go out and get Ramos, who is currently valued by Transfermarkt at just over £35m and is also claimed to be a target for Real Madrid.
But it would constitute daylight robbery were the 21-year-old to move for such a low fee, and Benfica's reported valuation of roughly £88m feels far more realistic.
Ramos joins a growing list of strikers linked with a switch to Old Trafford this off-season: Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen, and Atalanta prodigy Rasmus Hojlund are also said to be under consideration by United.
Out of those four names, Ramos would likely be the second-cheapest option – although, if his rumoured price tag is to be believed, that's rather relative...
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Ramos has scored four goals in seven caps for Portugal (Image credit: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The Benfica academy product was handed his senior debut for Portugal's most decorated club at the age of 17 back in 2019; he's gone on to make 95 appearances in all competitions, finding the net 38 times.
But it was his explosive competitive international debut which really made the world sit up and take notice: starting ahead of the dropped Ronaldo, Ramos hit a hat-trick as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 5-1 in the last 16 of Qatar 2022.
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
