Paris Saint-Germain have made an approach to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos - who Bruno Fernandes encouraged Manchester United to sign in this transfer window
19:29, 16 Jul 2023Updated 08:58, 17 Jul 2023
Manchester United are ramping up their pursuit of a striker but any hopes of signing Goncalo Ramos from Benfica are likely to be complicated.
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing the 22-year-old striker, who has emerged as one of the most in-demand attacking players in European football. Bruno Fernandes has already encouraged United to move for his Portugal international teammate.
Mirror Football understands that superagent Jorge Mendes has been given a mandate to sell the striker this summer. Ramos enjoyed somewhat of a breakthrough season for the Lisbon giants this campaign, bagging 27 goals as the de facto replacement for Darwin Nunez.
United are in desperate need of at least one new striker after Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit last year and Wout Weghorst ’s loan deal expiring. Anthony Martial, whose fitness continues to prompt concerns at the club, is the only recognised striker whose preference is playing in the central attacking role.
Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta has emerged as United’s preferred attacking target with the club priced out of moves for Tottenham ’s Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen of Napoli. However, the pursuit of Hojlund is far from straightforward and Ramos was a viable alternative.
Any move for the Benfica striker is also likely to be complicated with Portuguese outlet CM reporting that PSG have made an offer of €80million (£68.5m) for Ramos, which would ramp up any transfer valuation should United register their interest.
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Alongside spearheading a superb campaign for Benfica, including helping them to win the Portuguese league title, Ramos replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s starting line-up for the World Cup knockout rounds, bagging a sensational hat-trick in his side’s 6-1 demolition of Switzerland at the Round of 16 stage.
Alongside his goal return, Ramos assisted with a further 12 goals and impressed on the European stage. Benfica topped their Champions League group – which included Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus – before eventually having a superb run ended by Inter in the quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old is a product of Benfica's famed youth system – having joined aged 12 – and could be the latest in a long line of talents from the club to make a big-money move away from Lisbon. United playmaker Fernandes has already urged the Red Devils to sign the striker.
"I think Goncalo [Ramos] has all the conditions to play in the Premier League," Fernandes told Portuguese channel Sport TV in May, as per Record. "He plays with a lot of intensity, he presses very well and is really good inside the penalty area. He is strong. Obviously, he is still very young and will improve a lot."
Fernandes added: "If he continues to work as he has worked so far, I believe he has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world. He is already close to that level, but he still needs to go to a more competitive league and prove himself. He will go there, something I believe he has all the capabilities to do."
Asked whether the striker could join United this summer, Fernandes added: "Here, the best players will always be valued, be it Goncalo or someone else. I think he has all the qualities to play in the Premier League, and when I say in the Premier League, I also mean Manchester United.
"I think he could become a great reference in years to come. But it is still not in my hands, it is up to the sporting director. When I am in that position, I will make those decisions."