According to reports, Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos after losing out to Liverpool in the competition for Cody Gakpo.
United had talked about possibly acquiring Gakpo from PSV in the summer but ultimately decided to sign Antony for £85 million.
The Netherlands international was still a target for Ten Hag’s team, and a new approach was anticipated during the January transfer window.
Liverpool, on the other hand, pounced and defeated their Premier League rivals by reaching a £50 million agreement with PSV for the 23-year-old.
It’s assumed that United had not yet made an offer to PSV, and rumors have it that some club scouts weren’t entirely sold on Gakpo.
Gakpo was one of Ten Hag’s top targets for January, according to The Mirror, but the United manager is now trying to sign Ramos.
The Benfica striker, who scored a hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland in the last 16 of the World Cup earlier this month, has a €120m (£103m) release clause in his current contract.
The 21-year-old has been in sublime form for Benfica this season with nine goals in the league so far.
However, MailOnline reports that United will be forced to shop in the loan market in January as the Glazers continue their push to sell the club.
Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix is one option available to United, while reports earlier this month claimed that a loan deal for Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic is also being considered.
Speaking this week, Ten Hag insisted that United will not rush their decision over Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement after the 37-year-old left the club during the World Cup.
‘We are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one,’ Ten Hag said.
‘The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just adding to the squad because that only gives you problems. And, you know the criteria is high here at Manchester United.’
Leave a Reply