Roland Cutinho
Newcastle United plotting a high-profile move for SL Benfica striker and Manchester United target Goncalo Ramos
According to the Sun Live, Newcastle United are preparing to submit a new bid for Manchester United target Goncalo Ramos this summer.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is particularly keen on the Benfica goal-scorer and would want to strengthen his team’s attacking department.
It doesn’t come as a surprise to see the Magpies getting linked with high-profile players since their recent takeover by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF).
However, Howe’s side will now be playing UEFA Champions League football next season, and it comes as a no-brainer that they want to add quality players to help them compete in the league.
The Magpies are not the only side keeping an eye on Ramos for this reason. Man United are also closely linked with a move for the Benfica star.
United are keen on acquiring a new striker in the upcoming summer transfer window, and they have been linked with several options, including Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, Victor Osimhen from Napoli, and Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Last season, Ramos showcased his talent by scoring 27 goals and providing 12 assists, contributing significantly to Benfica’s triumph in the Primeira Liga. Even fellow international teammate Bruno Fernandes admitted that the 22-year-old has the potential to play for Man United.
Earlier, Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha (h/t the Daily Mail) suggested that the president of Benfica, Rui Costa, is under the impression that the Red Devils are prepared to meet the release clause stated in Ramos’s contract.
However, it would not be easy for both potential suitors to match the Portuguese striker’s astronomical asking price. Costa is still demanding £69 million for his prized asset and won’t be ready to budge on a cheaper deal since the player has three years left on his present contract.
United’s limited transfer budget have made them move more carefully in the transfer window. Reports suggest that Man United currently have a budget of just £65 million for a new player, but this amount could be increased through player sales.
There have been speculations about the potential departures of Anthony Martial, Fred, and Scott McTominay, among others. As a result, these potential sales will probably have an impact on the availability of funds for Ramos’ transfer.
Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Howe would be ready to strike first on Ramos after losing out on key attacking targets in the past. The Magpies were exploring a move for former Reims striker Huge Ekitike last summer, only to lose him to Paris Saint-Germain.
Hence, they sealed a club record deal for Alexander Isak and are currently well-stocked with Isak and Callum Wilson in their ranks. However, the latter’s contract is set to expire in a year, and hence, the club would be looking for a young, hungry player to lead the line.
However, it is highly unlikely that the Magpies will spend such a huge sum of money on Ramos after already splashing out £70m on AC Milan star Sandro Tonali this summer. Nonetheless, Ramos remains on United’s shortlist, with manager Erik ten Hag eager to secure a quality centre-forward for the team.
The club is determined to bolster its attacking options, and Ramos is a player they continue to track closely. United are currently focused on securing a deal for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund on a cut-price deal.
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We believe that the ‘Ramos to Old Trafford’ link has been going on for a long time, but signing a quality player is not as easy as it sounds. Any club needs funds to bring in good players, but in this case, it’s a huge asking price.
Man United have ambitions to strengthen numerous positions in the squad, and it would be better if they avoided spending big on a player if they didn’t have the margin to do so.
