Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth will likely be plotting ways to strengthen the current squad ahead of the January transfer window, with one name that has emerged as a potential target in recent times that of Benfica sensation, Goncalo Ramos.
Transfer insider Dean Jones named the Magpies as one of the possible Premier League suitors for the 21-year-old last week, while journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed over the summer that the Portuguese gem was a “top target” for the northeast side, prior to Alexander Isak’s arrival.
Should the Tynesiders make an approach in the New Year it would certainly be an astute move for the top-four hopefuls, with the emerging talent having enjoyed a real hot streak over the last 12 months or so for both club and country.
The 6 foot 1 machine has started the current campaign in scintillating form after scoring 14 goals and providing six assists in just 21 games for the Primeira Liga outfit in all competitions, after previously scoring eight goals in what was a breakthrough season last time out.
That rampant run has now been replicated for the national side, with the prolific ace – who previously scored 14 goals in just 18 games for Portugal’s U21 side – having hit the headlines as a result of his form at the World Cup in Qatar.
The five-cap starlet produced a “stunning display” – in the words of The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – on his first start for his country in the 6-1 thrashing over Switzerland in the round of 16, with the “remarkable” talent, as lauded by Gary Lineker, bagging a clinical hat-trick to announce himself to the wider world.
That performance will likely have only piqued the interest of both Ashworth and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe even further ahead of the winter window, with it set to be no surprise if Ramos is on the list of potential targets for 2023.
Interestingly for those of a Magpies persuasion, the youngster is said to share notable similarities to a former St James’ Park figure in Aleksandar Mitrovic, according to FBref.
That likeness is illustrated by the fact that the latter man averages 6.81 touches per game in the attacking penalty area as a marker of his poaching prowess, while Ramos is not far behind as he averages 6.25 for the same metric.
Equally, the Benfica ace has netted nine times in his 11 league outings so far this term, while the Serbia international has also enjoyed a fine return to the Premier League with nine goals from his 12 appearances to date.
Although Mitrovic may well have endured a difficult three-year spell with the Magpies in the past – scoring just 17 times in 72 outings in total – the 28-year-old has since flourished after departing for Fulham on an initial loan deal in 2018, scoring 105 goals in 189 games for the Cottagers thus far.
That includes a haul of 43 goals in the second tier last term, while the imposing marksman – who has 52 goals in just 79 games for his country – is the joint-fourth highest scorer in the top flight this term.
Were Howe and co be able to land their answer to the 6 foot 2 powerhouse in the form of Ramos the hope would be that the latter man could also prove just as potent in English football, with the aim now for Ashworth to win what will likely be an intense race for his signature.