Manchester United appears to be mirroring Liverpool's strategy of delving into the Portuguese market. Following Liverpool's prosperous signings of Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, United is reportedly prepared to invest around $87m in Benfica's rising star, Gonçalo Ramos. Manchester United's history with Portuguese talents such as Bruno Fernandes signals a sustained interest in the league, viewed as Europe's 'sixth league'.
According to Portuguese publication Correio da Manha, Rui Costa, Benfica's president, asserted that United is ready to shell out for Ramos. Many had mooted the prodigious player as a potential acquisition when Liverpool was eyeing Núñez. If this goes through, Manchester United will mirror Liverpool's strategy once again, by tapping into a talent pool that has previously proven to be fruitful.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane's potential blockbuster move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich continues to be a leading story in the transfer market. Despite a fee agreement still hanging in the balance, Kane has reportedly assented to the move, as per German outlet Sport Bild. Initial negotiations with Spurs involving a $77m bid plus add-ons were turned down, prompting Bayern to consider an augmented offer.
According to SportBild's Christian Falk and Tobi Altschaffl, the pursuit of Kane was hampered previously by Bayern's ex-sporting director Hasan "Brazzo" Salihamidzic, who refrained from chasing the England captain due to lack of clearance from Bayern's supervisory board. However, with a shift in the front office dynamics, Bayern's new manager, Thomas Tuchel, has successfully convinced the board about the necessity of a player of Kane's caliber. This renewed backing puts Kane, previously viewed as an extravagant expenditure, within reach for the Bundesliga champions.
In other Premier League news, Liverpool, typically conservative during transfer seasons, had teased the football world by flirting with the idea of signing Jude Bellingham. This unprecedented move, however, did not materialize, with the Reds diverting funds to sign a trio of solid players instead of one headline act. As a result, the Merseyside club remains a bystander in this summer's blockbuster moves, most notably the anticipated Kane deal.
Liverpool's exit from the Bellingham saga and Manchester United's interest in Gonçalo Ramos underscore the clubs' different transfer strategies. As one club conservatively strengthens its squad, the other boldly ventures into the transfer market. On the European front, Bayern Munich's dogged pursuit of Harry Kane sets the stage for a fascinating summer of moves and counter-moves in the football world.
