Transfer Talk: Ramos ready-made for Man Utd switch

Manchester United are in desperate need of a new No9 for next season if they are to challenge for the Premier League title.

French forward Anthony Martial continues to struggle with his fitness, while Wout Weghorst failed to score a single league goal in his Old Trafford loan spell.

But in Goncalo Ramos, the Red Devils may finally have a solution to their striker problem.

We shine the spotlight on the Benfica star who has been linked with a summer switch to Manchester.

Fox in the box

The 2022-23 season was another successful one for Ramos — the 22-year-old scored 19 times in 30 league games as Benfica won their 38th Portuguese title.

Among players with 10 or more goals in the division last term, only Porto marksman Mehdi Taremi recorded a better strike rate than the Eagles' No88.

Ramos also had the most shots of any player (83), further highlighting the threat he poses in the final third.

And in the Champions League, where Benfica reached the quarter-final stage, he added three more goals to his collection — plus another four in the competition's qualifying rounds.

International promise

Ramos has seven Portugal caps to his name and was selected for the 2022 World Cup squad that made it to the quarter-finals.

The Algarve native bagged his first international goal in a friendly against Nigeria just before the start of the tournament.

Out in Qatar, the Benfica hitman was asked to fill Cristiano Ronaldo's boots in the last 16 against Switzerland — and famously scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory for the Euro 2016 winners.

Seal of approval

Ramos' form both domestically and internationally is perhaps why compatriot and United playmaker Bruno Fernandes is eager for him to swap Lisbon for Manchester.

The 28-year-old midfielder said: "He [Ramos] has all the qualities to play in the Premier League, and when I say Premier League I also mean Manchester United.

"He is very intense, presses very well and is very good inside the area.

"He surprised me in the national team, not only me but the rest of my team-mates. He's physically strong, he's still young and he's going to get better.

"If he continues to work as he has been doing, I think he has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the world, but he needs to go to a more competitive league to prove it.

"I think he could become a great reference in the coming years, but it's still not in my hands to be sporting director."

Top signing

Ramos ticks all the boxes required to be a Premier League striker.

His goal numbers speak for themselves, while the fact he ranked ninth for aerial duels won in the Champions League last season shows he has the physicality needed to thrive in England. 

Perhaps the only issue for United will be monetary, as the Benfica academy graduate's current deal at the club does not expire until 2026.

Although triggering his reported £103million release clause could help the Red Devils mount a title challenge next season.