Transfer Gossip: Man Utd to ‘eclipse’ transfer record as deadly striker signing gathers pace; Major Liverpool offer ‘accepted’

Erik ten Hag the Mancheser United manager pic via MUFC TV

Man Utd are accelerating a move for a 25-goal striker who could smash their transfer record, while Fabrizio Romano has confirmed a Liverpool deal is “imminent” and West Ham have locked on to their ideal replacement for Gianluca Scamacca – all in Wednesday’s Transfer Gossip.

MAN UTD STRIKER MOVE TAKES SHAPE

The Red Devils are preparing what could be a new club-record bid to sign Benfica hitman, Goncalo Ramos, though a report claims the Portuguese might not be the only striker to arrive.

Signing an elite-level centre-forward is United’s priority number one in the transfer market this summer.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen of Napoli have long been established as their top targets. However, a lengthy list of viable alternatives have been speculated.

Goncalo Ramos, 21, is among them, with Portuguese outlet A Bola reporting in April Man Utd had ‘agreed internally’ to move for the player this summer.

Now, a fresh report from the Mirror has shed new light on the situation.

They claim Man Utd are ‘preparing to step up’ their pursuit of Ramos who could reportedly join as well as – not instead of – Harry Kane.

It’s reiterated Kane is the preferred option of the two, though will also be the most difficult to sign. Kane may yet pen fresh terms with his boyhood club to end all speculation. Even if he refuses, Tottenham would be loathe to sell to a domestic rival.

As such, a move for Ramos is far easier to make, with Portuguese clubs like Benfica reliant on regular high profile sales.

Ramos has stepped up to the plate this season when replacing Darwin Nunez who joined Liverpool. Ramos has bagged 25 goals and 11 assists in 44 matches this term. He also scored a hattrick for Portugal against Switzerland at the World Cup.

The Mirror add United view Ramos as a player who can contribute both in the present and future. Aged 29, Kane would be viewed as more of a short-term fix, much in the same way Robin van Persie was back in 2012.

United are ‘set to initiate contact’ with Benfica and hope a deal can be forged for below Ramos’  €120m (approx. £105m) release clause.

It’s claimed a bid of between £70m-£100m with add-ons on top is ‘poised to be discussed’ between the two clubs.

United’s current transfer record remains the £89.3m they paid to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus. The Mirror note a move for Ramos when add-ons are factored in is likely to ‘eclipse’ the Pogba fee.

Signing both Ramos and Kane in the same window would be an almighty undertaking and may be reliant on a fresh financial injection from either Sir Jim Ratcliffe or Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani.

However, the Mirror are convinced Man Utd at least aim to try and a move for Ramos is first up.

IMPORTANT LIVERPOOL AGREEMENT STRUCK

Liverpool are poised to appoint a new sporting director after Jorg Schmadtke ‘accepted’ their offer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Schmadtke, 59, has been Wolfsburg’s managing director since 2018 and emerged as Liverpool’s primary target to replace the outgoing Julian Ward.

Ward has only held the position of sporting director at Anfield for one year. He replaced the heralded Michael Edwards, though will step down this summer.

Schmadtke is the man the Reds have turned to and per Romano, the German has ‘accepted’ Liverpool’s offer.

An agreement is stated to be ‘imminent’ and Schmadtke will quickly get to work on the recruitment side of the game at Anfield.

He’ll work closely with Klopp who has become increasingly influential in Liverpool’s recruitment over recent seasons. Romano concluded Klopp will ‘remain crucial’ in the process moving forwards.

It had been speculated Schmadtke may only be arriving to serve on a consultancy basis. However, that’s not the case, with the Daily Mail reiterating he’ll assume full responsibilities as the sporting director.

Per the Mail, a three-year deal running until the summer of 2026 – which is also when Klopp’s current contract expires – will be signed.

WEST HAM SPY SCAMACCA REPLACEMENT

David Moyes is hoping to strike it lucky in the Championship once again after eyeing Coventry City’s Viktor Gyokeres to revamp his frontline.

That’s according to the Mirror who report Moyes is hoping for a repeat of his masterful £18m move for Jarrod Bowen.

Bowen arrived directly from the Championship when joining from Hull City and has since developed into one of the most threatening right wingers in the Premier League.

Moyes is understood to be unsatisfied with the performances of summer recruit Gianluca Scamacca who the Scot believes does not work hard enough. Speculation also continues to swirl Michail Antonio will make way at season’s end.

Sweden international Gyokeres, 24, is now on West Ham’s radar and is reportedly valued at the £20m mark. Only Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom (28) has scored more than Gyokeres (21) in the Championship this season.

Competition for the Swede’s signature could come from Everton and Leeds.