16 June 2023 , 09:34
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Manchester United's hopes of landing Goncalo Ramos are growing after superagent Jorge Mendes was given a mandate to sell the starlet.
United have hit a brick wall trying to prise Harry Kane out of Tottenham. But Portuguese outfit Benfica are willing to sell their hot young striker Ramos after the forward smashed 25 goals this term for club and country.
Benfica have a track record of developing and selling stars and have given Mendes the green light to cash in this summer. Portugal striker Ramos, 21, made his name replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up before scoring a hat-trick against Switzerland in the World Cup last-16.
This term Ramos has stepped up at Benfica to fill the boots of Darwin Nunez following the Uruguayan's £85million move to Liverpool last summer. Benfica are now looking for a similar deal worth at least £80m plus add-ons to flog their latest goalscorer.
United boss Erik Ten Hag wants more firepower with Marcus Rashford their top scorer on 30 goals way ahead of Bruno Fernandes on 14. Spurs' talisman Kane was deemed the ideal target this summer with his contract set to expire in 12 months' time.
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But Tottenham co-owner Daniel Levy is adamant their star man won't be sold on the cheap, which has put United off entering into drawn out negotiations. Levy wants at least £100m to part with Kane this summer.
The England captain turns 30 next month and is unlikely to force a move when he knows he would receive more lucrative offers next summer when he becomes available as a free agent.
Ramos helped Benfica to the Portuguese title last season (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The striker is currently on international duty with Portugal (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY: Would Ramos be a good signing for United? Let us know in the comments below.
United have also been monitoring Victor Osimhen's progress at Napoli, but the Serie A champions will only consider selling for a huge fee. That has led United to weigh up cheaper alternatives, with Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, 20, and Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani, 24, both on their radar.
A move for Ramos would arguably excite United fans more so than the arrivals of either Hojlund or Kolo Muani after his star turn for Portugal at the World Cup. His international team-mate Fernandes has already praised Ramos publicly and talked up a potential move to Old Trafford.
United have cooled their interest in Tottenham's Harry Kane (Getty Images)"The best always come in handy, be it Goncalo or another player," Fernandes told Sport TV, as cited by A Bola last month. "I think he has all the qualities to play in the Premier League, and when I say Premier League I also mean Manchester United.
"I think he could become a great reference in the coming years, but it's still not in my hands to be sports director."
Man Utd's takeover situation could slow down any impending deal though it is thought Ten Hag will still be able to make transfers despite the future of the club's ownership being up in the air.