Manchester United 'prepared' for Goncalo Ramos bidding war and other transfer rumours

The Benfica forward emulated his brilliant domestic form this season with an outstanding World Cup campaign and has been linked with a move to Man United

Kyle Newbould Freelance Football Writer

08:00, 18 Jan 2023Updated 08:04, 18 Jan 2023

Goncalo Ramos shot onto the scene thanks to an impressive hat-trick in the World Cup for Portugal.(Image: Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United are prepared to enter a bidding war for Benfica and Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos, it has been reported.

Ramos attracted worldwide interest for his performances in the World Cup, scoring three goals in four appearances before Fernando Santos' side were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals, leading to the Portugal boss being replaced by Roberto Martinez. The 21-year-old's campaign in Qatar was merely a continuation of an outstanding domestic season in which he has bagged 17 goals in 26 games across all competitions.

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United are one of three potential suitors named in a report by Portuguese outlet O Jogo as being interested in signing the striker. It adds that the Old Trafford outfit will likely face competition from both Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain for Ramos' signature.

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The striker's contract with Benfica runs until 2025 and is said to include a release clause of €120million, although the Portuguese side hope to extend his deal and ignite a summer bidding war. Erik Ten Hag's side remain at work in sourcing a long-term solution to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo over the winter.

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Wout Weghorst's half-season loan from Burnley was confirmed last week, but the 30-year-old is expected to provide a very capable stop-gap before attentions turn to summer. Elsewhere, representatives of Marco Reus were spotted at Old Trafford to watch the Manchester derby on Saturday amid rumours the German is eyeing a Premier League move - according to Daily Mail.

The Borussia Dortmund star is out of contract in the summer, allowing him to weigh up his options through the second half of this campaign. United have been linked with a move in the past, but have always found it hard to pry the German away from his boyhood club.

Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr - who welcomed Ronaldo earlier this month - hope Reus can become the latest big name to head to the Middle East, but plenty of top European clubs will be hoping the 33-year-old still desires top-level football.

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Reus came through the youth ranks at Borussia Dortmund before leaving in 2006. He returned to the club he supported as a child back in 2012, and has since scored 156 goals in 368 appearances across all competitions, winning the DFB Pokal twice and finishing runner-up in the 2013 Champions League final.

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