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Manchester United 'given green light to make Goncalo Ramos approach'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 22 June 2023

Man United 'given green light to make Goncalo Ramos approach'

Benfica reportedly give Goncalo Ramos's agent the green light to find a new club for the striker this summer amid links with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Benfica have reportedly told Goncalo Ramos's agent Jorge Mendes that they would be willing to sell the striker this summer.

Ramos has established himself as one of the brightest attacking talents in Europe since breaking into the senior setup at Benfica, scoring 41 goals in 106 games for the first team.

The 22-year-old enjoyed by far the best season of his fledgling career in 2022-23 with 19 goals and seven assists in 30 Primeira Liga matches as Benfica won the title for the first time since 2018-19.

Ramos also made his mark in the Champions League and had a direct hand in 39 goals in 47 games across all competitions for the Portuguese giants.

That form earned the striker a call-up to the Portugal squad for the World Cup, where he scored four goals including a memorable hat-trick against Switzerland in the last 16, becoming the first player since 1990 to take the matchball home from a World Cup knockout game.

Ramos has subsequently been linked with a number of Europe's biggest clubs, including Manchester United, who are known to be in the market for a centre-forward this summer.

Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates with Bernardo Silva after scoring their first goal on December 6, 2022 © Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's refusal to sell Harry Kane to a domestic rival has forced the Red Devils to consider other options, with Victor Osimhen, Randal Kolo Muani and Rasmus Hojlund among the names on their shortlist.

Ramos is another name on their radar, and The Mirror reports that their hopes of bringing him to Old Trafford have improved after Jorge Mendes was given a mandate to find a buyer this summer.

Benfica's business model is built on improving a player and then making profit on them, and they are hopeful that Ramos will be the next one off their production line.

The Eagles sold Darwin Nunez to Liverpool for a reported £85m fee last summer and are understood to want a similar price of more than £80m for Ramos this time around.

Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping tabs on the Portugal international's situation, but Man United are thought to be at the front of the queue for his signature.

Ramos's international teammate and Man United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has already talked up the possibility of the striker joining the club, insisting that he has all of the attributes required to succeed in the Premier League.