Manchester United are leading the race to sign Goncalo Ramos

Reports suggest that Manchester United are currently the front-runners in the pursuit of Benfica’s rising star, Goncalo Ramos, as they aim to bolster their center-forward options under the management of Erik ten Hag.

Portuguese news outlet, Record, cited by Sports Witness, claims that United are leading the race for the 21-year-old striker, who is also being courted by several other Premier League clubs.

Despite having three years remaining on his current contract with Benfica, the Portuguese national is expected to depart the club at the end of the season.

Football Insider previously reported that a transfer fee of approximately £70m could be sufficient for Manchester United to secure the services of the talented striker from the Estadio da Luz.

With Manchester United currently being linked to both Harry Kane and Goncalo Ramos as potential solutions to their center-forward issues, there is much speculation about which player the club should pursue.

While Kane has been a long-standing target, negotiations with Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, could prove challenging.

As an alternative, signing the promising young Portuguese striker, Goncalo Ramos, may offer a more straightforward and cost-effective solution for the Red Devils.

As rumors suggest that Harry Kane could demand a transfer fee of around £100m and is approaching 30 years of age, Manchester United might want to consider a more cost-effective and youthful alternative in the form of Goncalo Ramos.

The 21-year-old striker has been in excellent form this season, scoring 26 goals and providing 12 assists in 45 games across all competitions.

He has also gained attention for his performance in the World Cup, where he scored a hat-trick against Switzerland. With his impressive skills, standing at 6 foot 1, Ramos has the potential to become a significant player in the coming years and has been compared to Karim Benzema by his former youth coach, Joao Fonseca.

There are reports that Real Madrid, where Karim Benzema currently plays, is also interested in signing Goncalo Ramos as a potential successor to the veteran striker.

This comparison is not unfounded, as Ramos has shown this season that he can offer a potent combination of clinical finishing and creative play when leading the front line, much like Benzema.

The statistics back this up, as over the past year, Ramos has averaged 6.54 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 minutes, while Benzema has only slightly more at 7.31 touches per 90 minutes, highlighting their similar abilities to make an impact in the opposing 18-yard box.

Being compared to a player of Benzema’s caliber is undoubtedly a significant accolade for Ramos, who, standing at 6 foot 1, also provides a strong focal point in attack.

Benzema is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe, having won the Ballon d’Or last year and helped Real Madrid secure five Champions League titles.

The notion that Manchester United could potentially find Benzema’s successor in the form of Ramos is an exciting prospect indeed.