Portugal hero Goncalo Ramos release clause emerges after Leeds United hit £39million roadblock
Gancalo Ramos was available for €45million [£39million] when Leeds United were interested in the summer but his price will be far higher now, says Ben Jacobs.
The Whites were one of a number of Premier League teams, including Newcastle, who were interested in the Portuguese international in the summer, but couldn’t or wouldn’t pay his asking price at Benfica.
After he replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up at the World Cup and scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 last-16 win over Switzerland on Tuesday night the bidding will now have to start way above that point, as Jacobs shared his €120million [£103million] release clause.
Writing on his personal Twitter account after the game on Tuesday night (6 December) the CBS journalist wrote: “Ramos has a release clause of €120m & was drawing interest long before the World Cup.
“He almost joined PSG over the summer. Benfica wanted close to €45m & that price will be higher now. Several EPL clubs have looked, including MUFC, NUFC, LUFC, Wolves, Southampton & Forest.”
Long gone
Before Tuesday he may have been one of the less high-profile of the attacking targets that the Whites missed out on in the summer, but has now shot to prominence.
He joins the likes of Cody Gakpo as players the club looked at but weren’t in a position to secure, although Jesse Marsch has said they came extremely close on the Dutchman.
It seems like Victor Orta isn’t having trouble identifying talented young attackers, with Charles De Ketelaere another name that will give some supporters flashbacks.
But ones that are realistic from either a willingness or a price-range point of view are apparently more of an issue.
A proven goalscorer is still seen as a priority heading into January, given that all the fears about what might go wrong for Patrick Bamford have been proven right.
Rodrigo has picked up the slack, and Crysencio Summerville has contributed from out wide, but unless Marsch is ready to throw Mateo Joseph or Sonny Perkins in there isn’t much if the the top scorer goes down, since Joe Gelhardt looks headed for a loan.
In other Leeds United news, Neil Robertson wants Chelsea to sign an Elland Road man because he would be the “perfect fit” for Stamford Bridge.