Man Utd have informed Erik ten Hag that signing a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in January ‘is not certain’ as they make an enquiry for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, according to reports.
The Red Devils are hoping to sign a new striker in the winter transfer window, which is now just over two weeks away, after Ronaldo left the club by mutual consent.
Ronaldo failed to engineer a move away from Old Trafford in the summer and, following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, the club and the player agreed he had no future in Manchester.
The leaves the Red Devils with only Marcus Rashford and injury-prone Anthony Martial as possible options in attack and they will now look to enter the transfer market to solve their issue.
A number of forwards have been linked with PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix amongst the possibilities.
However, ESPN claims that Erik ten Hag ‘has been told it is not certain a striker will arrive next month’ and ‘there remains a view at Old Trafford that January is not the ideal time to bring in new players’.
The website adds that sources have told them that ‘there are significant budget constraints as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a higher than expected outlay on transfers last summer’.
Ten Hag ‘believes the squad is short of firepower following Ronaldo’s exit and would like the club to explore whatever options are available.’
And Ramos has emerged as a possible transfer target with ESPN insisting that Man Utd ‘are set to make an enquiry’ about his availability in January.
Benfica were considering offers for the Portugal international in the region of €20m in the summer but he has now dramatically increased that valuation after his hat-trick against Switzerland in the World Cup round of 16.
ESPN expand on United’s interest in other players with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven ‘keen to keep Gakpo in January’ after their asking price doubled in just a few months.
The Red Devils have been ‘alerted to Felix’s availability’ but Atletico Madrid’s €100m asking price is currently putting off the Premier League side.
However, a loan deal is a possibility with Atletico willing to let Felix leave, while his team-mate Alvaro Morata is also attracting interest from Man Utd and elsewhere.
READ MORE: How Ronaldo has already cocked up his own Chelsea transfer after Rooney ‘savages’ him
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