Manchester United are set to battle Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos in the January transfer window.
That’s according to Portuguese outlet Record, which claims he tops Erik ten Hag’s list of players.
United’s attack is threadbare, with the manager publicly admitting the team’s need for a new striker in the winter.
Currently, the Red Devils only have Anthony Martial as a natural center forward, and the Frenchman has had a difficult campaign thus far.
He made just his third Premier League start yesterday against Nottingham Forest, and while he played well and scored, relying on him for the remainder of the season is a risky proposition.
Ramos has been in fantastic form for Benfica this season, seamlessly replacing Darwin Nunez, who joined Liverpool in the summer.
The Portugal star has already scored 15 goals for the league leaders and has impressed with his all-around game.
At just 21, Ramos would represent a fantastic long-term solution to United’s woes early on.
Ten Hag’s side had a zero goal difference heading into the game against Nottingham Forest yesterday, and it’s clear that a clinical finisher could have even doubled United’s 3-0 win.
Whether United can afford to sign a player so critical to Benfica’s success this season remains to be seen.
Financially, the Red Devils do not appear to be in a position to compete with their rivals for permanent signings and are instead looking to explore loan opportunities.
Summer would be a more likely time for a deal between Ramos and United to go through, although with interest from state-backed clubs, there are concerns that that time is too late.
