Paris Saint-Germain are set to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos in a £69 million deal after Premier League giants Manchester United opted for Rasmus Hojlund instead.
In an intriguing twist of fate, it was Manchester United agreeing a deal with Atalanta for Hojlund which paved the way for Erik ten Hag’s ‘back-up’ centre-forward target to pack his bags and head for the French capital.
PSG wanted Hojlund too. The deadly Dane had little interest in listening to what Les Parisiens had to say, however; his heart set on sealing a ‘dream’ move to his boyhood club.
United might have stepped up their interest in Ramos had Atalanta refused to cash in on Hojlund. Instead, it is PSG who have turned to the powderkeg Portuguese, Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Benfica talisman could sign a long-term contract at the Parc des Princes as early as this week; the Ligue 1 champions reacting quickly and decisively after accepting defeat over the Old Trafford-bound Hojlund.
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Goncalo Ramos swapping Benfica for PSG
“Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on Gonçalo Ramos deal!” Romano explains. “Agreement very close, final details being sorted. It could completed this week.”
PSG, Romano adds, will pay £69 million with add-ons included. Ramos, who scored a stunning hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland at the Qatar World Cup, should sign a deal until the summer of 2028, and should be joined in France by Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele as Luis Enrique’s side plan for life without contract-rebel Kylian Mbappe.
According to A Bola, Man United sent scouts to watch Ramos on numerous occasions last term. Why the Red Devils opted for Hojlund instead remains to be seen. Perhaps Ten Hag felt United were more in need of a classic, traditional ‘number nine’.
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Fernandes backing
“I think Goncalo has all the conditions to play in the Premier League,” Portugal team-mate and Man United captain Bruno Fernandes told SportTV of Ramos.
“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.
“I believe he has all the capabilities for that.”