Three ways Man United could line up with Goncalo Ramos amid transfer interest

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the club will be looking to sign a striker during the upcoming January transfer window.

United are light on options at centre-forward following Cristiano Ronaldo's recent exit from the club. The 37-year-old was released by the Reds last month in the aftermath of his already infamous interview with Piers Morgan.

His exit has left United with just one senior out-and-out striker in the form of Anthony Martial, whose fitness has proven somewhat fragile so far this season. He has played just seven times in all competitions, meaning doubts have been raised about him maintaining his fitness in the second half of the campaign.

United need to sign a new striker in January to try and increase their attacking output. They are the lowest scorers inside the Premier League's top seven this term, scoring just 20 goals. Only Chelsea (17) have scored fewer in the top ten.

United have been linked with a crop of forwards ahead of the transfer window opening, including PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo, Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid and Napoli star Victor Osimhen, who is of genuine interest to the club. But after scoring a hat-trick in Portugal's 6-1 win World Cup win over Switzerland last week, Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos is the latest name to be heavily linked with the prospect of a move to Old Trafford.

Ten Hag, as reported by the  Manchester Evening News  , is believed to be an admirer of the 21-year-old and MEN Sport has taken a look at three ways United could possibly line up with him in the team. It is worth stressing a mid-season move for Ramos is unlikely given the sizeable fee Benfica would likely command for him, with a summer approach much more realistic.

United are poised to prioritise the signing of a striker in the next phase of their squad rebuild under Ten Hag in 2023 and have already drawn up a list of possible candidates, including Osimhen. However, the chances of United extracting him from Napoli mid-season are virtually impossible, such is the position the Italian outfit currently find themselves in.

Several other options have been mentioned and linked with United, with Ramos being the latest. The youngster made headlines last Tuesday after starting for Portugal in place of Ronaldo and scoring a hat-trick, firing them into the last eight.

Although he was a relatively unknown figure when the line-ups were announced, Ramos has been banging the goals in at club level for Benfica this season, scoring 14 times in 21 games. He has also registered six assists.

He operates as a central striker, meaning he would be a tailor-made fit to fill the No.9 position, whereas the likes of Gakpo and Felix are not necessarily natural strikers. Supported by Antony and Marcus Rashford from the wide areas, he could be considered ideal to operate through the middle of the front three.

Such is the shape of United's trademark 4-3-3 system, it has the flexibility to become a 4-2-3-1 formation. In both of those systems, fellow Portugal international Bruno Fernandes operates in the attacking-midfield berth, dominating the No.10 area.

But as we have seen this season, United do not have a suitable back-up option when he is unavailable, considering Ten Hag has refused to move Christian Eriksen further forward, instead leaving him in a more reserved No.8 role. The United boss has said Donny van de Beek as it his best when playing as an attacking midfielder but we are yet to see proof of that.

Ramos did on occasions operate as a second-striker/attacking midfielder last season. Although it his not his preferred position, he has shown a capability to operate in that role and offer a threat.

United would not sign him to play in that role, but it is somewhere he could slot in, should he be required to.

Although United are yet to play with a front two under Ten Hag, the signing of Ramos would give him the scope to trial it. The Portuguese star is a natural No.9 and could join forces with Martial through the middle.

That would see United have to sacrifice a midfielder, with their midfield trio of Eriksen, Casemiro and Fernandes having worked so well together this term. But if Ten Hag did choose to mix things up, it would most likely be Eriksen that would have to make way, given Casemiro provides the defensive element and Fernandes the attack-minded one.

Antony and Rashford would continue to provide energy and width from out wide and cut inside, joining forces with Ramos and Martial.