Benfica are trying to block a potential departure for striker Gonçalo Ramos, with Newcastle United joining the race for his signature.
That’s according to Jornal de Noticias, who cover the striker and the developing race for him in their Ataque supplement today.
They report that Ramos’ hat-trick against Switzerland at the World Cup has seen a ‘rise in the player’s quotation’ as clubs eye up a move.
Juventus are the latest to join the hunt for his signature, but the list is growing, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Newcastle, PSG and Wolves also in the mix.
Benfica are ‘not interested’ in releasing the striker in the January transfer window, though, as he is their top goal scorer and manager Roger Schmidt considers him crucial for the second half of the season.
Politically, the decision to keep the striker is ‘final’ and the Portuguese club plan to refer anyone interested to his €120m release clause if they ask about a deal.
It’s a far cry from the summer transfer window, when the player was very much on the market. Indeed, Rui Costa has admitted that it would have been easy to get him for €40m.
Newcastle were named among his suitors then as well, with it claimed on several occasions that they would present a bid and try to make a move happen.
They instead spent their money on Alexander Isak but the interest in Ramos has not gone away and, in Portugal at least, they believe the Magpies will be among those bidding, even if Benfica aren’t interested in a sale.
