‘Not a good sign’ – Benfica give update on Man Utd target Goncalo Ramos

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 27 Jan 2023 08:02 GMT
• 3 min read

Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos looks very unlikely to make a move in the January transfer window, despite being a name firmly in the shop window when he impressed at the 2022 World Cup.

Manchester United were among the clubs who were interested in the player, yet the prospect of a move to Old Trafford cooled when it became apparent that the Red Devils would only be interested in loan moves this month.

Erik ten Hag’s side ultimately captured Wout Weghorst, a former Benfica player, on loan from Burnley, yet they continue to be linked with alternative options due to a chronic shortage of options at centre-forward.

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Ramos is likely to be a long-term option for Man Utd, but any prospect of a January deal has effectively been shot down by an injury the player suffered in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira. Following the game, Benfica boss Roger Schmidt admitted that he was concerned by the injury, hinting that it might see the 21-year-old sidelined for some weeks.

“We’ve not got a big squad. The problem is in the upper leg. We have to see. He was in some pain and it’s not a good sign when a player is injured on his own,” the German said pessimistically.

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Ramos is under contract with Benfica until 2025 and has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €38.4 million, though with his club’s negotiating skills, demonstrated by the possible €100m fee they got for Darwin Nunez last summer, it is likely he would go for a higher figure than that.

In December, it was reported in Portugal that Benfica would only accept an offer that matched the player’s €120m release clause – the same stance they have taken with Chelsea, who have been angling for World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) explained

Our Player Valuation Model calculates an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for more than 240.000 players in the world.

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Our Player Valuation Model calculates an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for more than 240.000 players in the world. It uses information on the player's skill, potential, performance, contract duration, position and other statistics to estimate an accurate ETV.

Read more here.

This stance is designed to make the Red Devils look elsewhere, yet if pressure is applied by the player, Benfica’s asking price may drop. The Portuguese club are unlikely to be very flexible over the price, though.

Manchester United will be keeping an eye on how Ramos’ injury evolves, with the striker still on their shortlist after scoring 18 times and creating seven more in 28 matches for Benfica this season.