Izuchukwu OkosiManchester United are reportedly looking to jettison plans to sign Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen, and rather pursue an interest in another striker in the summer transfer window.
According to media reports in the UK on Friday, United are in talks to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos.
United manager, Erik ten Hag is in the market for an elite number nine this summer, having been short of options in attack this season.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane had emerged as Ten Hag’s top choice albeit his transfer price is likely to scare away possible suitors.
The England skipper is likely to carry a hefty price tag of over £100 million, with club president Daniel Levy keen for him to stay in north London.
Meanwhile, United have been heavily linked with Napoli striker, Osimhen. The Nigerian recently confirmed his desire to play in the Premier League.
Although, Osimhen, likely to be named in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau is also expected to cost a huge sum, with Napoli expecting in excess of £89 million for his services.
READ ALSO: Osimhen Must Stop Diving Attitude If He Moves To Premier League – Mourinho
Recently, former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, who spent a season on loan at United between January 2020 and January 2021 and is known to be close friends with Osimhen, suggested that the latter should consider a move to Old Trafford.
However, Ten Hag is now said to have turned his attention to Goncalvo Ramos, dubbed ‘the next Cristiano Ronaldo’
Manchester United are in advanced talks with super agent Jorge Mendes to sign Ramos, claims Portuguese news outlet Correio da Manha.
The Portugal international made the headlines at the World Cup in Qatar after he took Ronaldo’s place in the lineup.
Ramos went on to score a hat-trick against Switzerland and proceeded to start their final game against Morocco, but was unable to prevent their 1-0 quarter-final defeat.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old is also the top scorer in the Primera Liga, helping himself to 15 goals in 23 games.
Most recently, he scored twice in his side’s 5-2 demolition of Scott Parker’s Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Ramos wouldn’t come cheap, though. Benfica has attached a £106m release clause to his contract, with the striker under contract until 2026.
The report states that the club would be open to selling the player for a discount of £ 88.8m (€100m).
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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