03 April 2023 , 09:16
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Manchester United are willing to pay a release clause to sign a Benfica player... but the same can't be said about Liverpool.
It is believed Erik ten Hag is interested in signing Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos, who scored a hat-trick against Switzerland at the World Cup in Qatar. Benfica have told United they must pay his €120million (£105.6m) release clause - but that does not faze them.
Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, is a big fan of Benfica's teenager defender Antonio Silva, who broke into Portugal's senior squad last year. Yet Liverpool are unwilling to trigger his €100m (£88m) release clause. Benfica have a reputation for refusing to budge on transfers.
As reported by Portuguese outlet A Bola, Benfica will not sell Ramos, 21, or Silva, 19, unless their release clauses are triggered. The Lisbon club are 10 points clear at the top of the league and determined to build a squad capable of competing in Europe, too.
As such, Benfica will only sell their best talent if they are forced to.
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Ten Hag is said to have urged United's board to sign Ramos this summer instead of other transfer targets - including Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen, Randal Kolo Muani and Rasmus Holjund. Their first offer will be around £88m, but that is likely to be rejected.
Antonio Silva is on Liverpool's transfer radar (Getty Images)Do you think Manchester United and Liverpool should stump up the cash? Let us know in the comments below!
Ramos has filled the void left by Darwin Nunez at Benfica after the Uruguayan's move to Liverpool last summer. He has scored 25 goals and provided 10 assists for Benfica in all competitions this term - form which secured him a spot in Portugal's World Cup squad.
Ramos was even picked ahead of the great Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's last-16 clash against Switzerland in Qatar. The emerging forward, who has called Ronaldo a "reference" and an "idol", responded by scoring a stunning hat-trick.
In terms of Silva, Liverpool are after the breakthrough star. The centre-back has won three senior caps for his country and is enjoying a brilliant first season at Benfica - making 34 appearances in all competitions. Yet the Reds will need to cough up if they want Silva.
Chelsea were forced to pay a British record transfer fee of £106m to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January after he won the Young Player Award at the World Cup in Qatar. That was his release clause, but a huge amount for a player of Fernandez's standing.
Chelsea agreed to trigger Fernandez's release clause on deadline day after spending all of January trying to persuade Benfica to accept a lower offer. Despite may appealing offers, Benfica refused to budge and waited until they were forced to sell Fernandez.
Many other clubs would've buckled under the pressure. After all, Benfica paid an initial £8.8m to sign Fernandez from River Plate just six months before his Chelsea switch. Rejecting huge offers for an unproven player was a risk, but one that paid off for Benfica.