Newcastle United are reportedly among a quartet of clubs interested in signing Benfica’s €40 million-rated attacker Goncalo Ramos this summer.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, as relayed by Jacque Talbot, Newcastle United are interested in promising Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, who could be available for a cut-price €40 million this summer, despite his release clause standing at €120 million.
Ramos joined the Eagles way back in 2013, having previously played for local team SC Olhanense. The youngster made his Primeira Liga debut in July 2020 against Aves, scoring a brace in his brief appearance. The Portuguese attacker was inducted into the first team permanently for the 2021/22 campaign after some more impressive displays and has flourished in many aspects.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a productive season with Benfica, netting seven goals in 29 league outing as his side secured a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga. Ramos also gained some significant UEFA Champions League experience along the way, making seven appearances and even scoring Benfica’s opener in the 3-3 draw against Liverpool before crashing out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.
The international stage has brought Ramos even more success, as he has scored 14 goals in 18 outings for Portugal Under-21, indicating that he has the potential to grow into a top-tier finisher. His excellent displays and undoubted potential have piqued the interest of several European bigwigs, including German powerhouses Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
There is also interest from the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United keen on securing his signature. While the transfer costs could be hefty for Forest, there is no such case for Newcastle thanks to their owners’ deep pockets. And a transfer tussle could only be a good thing for Benfica, who want to drive the current €40 million price up and profit from it.
It seems Newcastle could be weighing up alternatives after their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike hit another hurdle. To that end, Ramos could be a perfect option if the Magpies could lure him to Tyneside for a reasonable price. While he is not a typical poacher, he is excellent at facilitating play around him and should fit well into Eddie Howe’s system, which suits his aggression, spatial awareness, and tenacity.
With Newcastle already boasting two very capable and experienced Premier League strikers in Callum Wilson and Chris Wood, the new owners would do well to invest in the future and sign someone like Ramos, who is only 20 years old and has an exceptionally high ceiling.
Although Ramos has a €120 million buy-out clause inserted in his contract, Benfica are ready to do business at a cut-price €40 million fee for their prized asset, having recently rejected a bid from an unnamed club for the player.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes is leading the charge of negotiations and will undoubtedly seek the best possible deal for his client, putting Newcastle in the driver’s seat as they have the capacity to offer lucrative personal terms. However, if either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund are serious about signing the forward, Newcastle will face a challenging situation since the competition holds the Champions League trump card.