Bruno Fernandes has no doubt that Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos could thrive at Manchester United with the Premier League giants eyeing a player with genuine world-class potential.
Erik ten Hag’s Portugueuse playmaker is very well placed to pass judgement on a forward who has emerged as one of Manchester United’s leading targets heading into a potentially transformative transfer window. Bruno, after all, knows Goncalo Ramos very well from their time together on international duty.
And with Tottenham Hotspur determined to hang onto Harry Kane – as Napoli demand around £140 million for Victor Osimhen – do not be surprised to see the 21-year-old move up Ten Hag’s summer wishlist over the coming weeks.
While not exactly affordable, the Benfica talisman certainly feels more attainable than either Kane or Osimhen.
The presence of fellow Portugal international Fernandes in the Old Trafford dressing room, meanwhile, should do United no harm if they plan to step up their pursuit of one of Europe’s most exciting young number nines.
Will Goncalo Ramos be Manchester United’s new striker?
“I think Goncalo has all the conditions to play in the Premier League,” Fernandes tells SportTV, via Mais Futebol.
“He has a lot of intensity, presses very well and is very good inside the area. He surprised me a lot in the (national team) as well. Physically, he’s strong and obviously he’s going to improve a lot because he’s young.
“If he continues to work as he has worked so far, I believe he has the potential to be 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 it there.
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“I believe he has all the capabilities for that.”
‘He could become a great player’
21-year-old Ramos came close to joining relegated Southampton less than 12 months ago. Since then, he’s scored 27 goals while setting up 12 more. His excellent link-play and exceptional off-the-ball work-rate, meanwhile, is likely to appeal to Ten Hag as much as his ruthless finishing skills.
According to A Bola, United sent scouts to watch him in action only a few weeks ago.
“He has all the qualities to play in the Premier League,” Fernandes adds of his compatriot; scorer of a World Cup hat-trick against Switzerland after relegating Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench.
“And, when I say Premier League, I also mean Manchester United. I think he could become a great player in the coming years.
“But it’s still not in my hands to be sports director!”
Ramos has a £103 million release clause in his Benfica contract. It remains to be seen whether the Lisbon giants hope to squeeze every single penny out of Manchester United, having sold Enzo Fernandez and Darwin Nunez to Chelsea and Liverpool for a combined fee of nearly £200 million last season.