Manchester United possess an 'interest' in Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The 21-year-old has come through the youth ranks at Benfica, having initially joined the Lisbon club back in 2013.

Ramos, whose contract runs until June 2026 after an extension last October, has started all but one of Benfica's league and European matches this season following Darwin Nunez's move to Liverpool.

The Uruguayan is among a number of players to leave the Portuguese top flight for the Premier League in recent years, alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Luis Diaz and Fabio Vieira.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones said that Ramos could be the latest Primeira Liga import at an elite English club. He also set out United's criteria, explaining that they might not go for the biggest name but will still be wary of taking risks.

Jones said in relation to recent reported links between Ramos and the Red Devils: “He is a player of interest, and we know that Liga Nos is proving itself as a great breeding ground for new Premier League talent.

“United will want someone who is hungry to make a name for themselves but who also is not a huge gamble or a huge price-tag. Ramos is definitely interesting.”

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The verdict

Ramos has started the season in fantastic goalscoring form, netting eight times in his first 12 matches. He has also laid on six assists, so he's averaging a direct goal involvement every 59 minutes.

He had already established himself as an elite prospect by winning the Golden Boot in both the UEFA Youth League and Under-19 European Championship, along with Benfica's 2021 'Revelation of the Year' Award.

He's doing it at first-team level now, and if he can keep this up over a full season, a big-money move may be in the offing next summer.

There may still be some maturing to do, based on a red card that Ramos received for diving in a game against Vizela earlier this month, but journalist Zach Lowy says that the sale of Nunez has allowed him 'to emerge as the club’s attacking talisman' and prove that he's a 'fantastic young striker'.

Called up to the senior Portugal side for the first time this month, he has been dubbed a 'pure demon' by The Athletic's Jack Collins.

Following on from Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernandes in previous years, Ramos may well be another shrewd Portuguese coup by United if they can lure him to Old Trafford.