Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is keeping a close eye on the World Cup as he seeks to find a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad.
The Portuguese superstar ended his relationship with United by mutual consent earlier last month, following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. His departure from Old Trafford leaves Anthony Martial, who has missed much of the season through injury, and Marcus Rashford as the only two senior forwards in Ten Hag’s squad.
PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo is the player who has been most frequently linked with a move to United. Gakpo has attracted Premier League attention and has spoken directly about United’s interest in his services.
The Netherlands international – who has scored in each of his side’s three group stage World Cup matches – stayed at PSV this campaign as United instead opted to sign Antony from Ajax. However, Gakpo has been a long-term target for Ten Hag and his impressive World Cup showing will likely add to his admiration in the Old Trafford corridors of power.
Indeed Ten Hag explained in an interview to United’s club website that he is keeping a close eye on the tournament, and not just on current United stars: “All the top players are there so it’s really nice to watch that and of course a lot of our players are there, in different teams, so I watch [the World Cup] a lot.”
Yet Gakpo is just one of a number of attacking stars on United’s radar who is impressing at the tournament. Joao Felix has demanded an exit from Atletico Madrid this January and United have already been linked with a move for the former Benfica ace.
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A report in Marca has outlined how Felix has made the demand of his agent to find him a new club in January due to a high-profile fallout at Atleti with boss Diego Simeone – with United one of a handful of clubs who could fund a move. The 23-year-old netted in Portugal’s group stage win over Ghana and has impressed in a fluid attacking role for Fernando Santos’s side.
Felix’s Portugal teammate Rafael Leao is another option for United having netted against both Ghana and Switzerland. A recent report from ESPN that the Milan striker is on Ten Hag’s radar, having netted 14 goals for Milan last season and already chalking up seven strikes in 20 appearances this campaign. A price tag may prove prohibitive, but United’s admiration is clear.
United have reportedly made contact with the representatives of Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos – who sensationally bagged a hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Switzerland, having replaced Ronaldo in the starting line-up. An out-and-out striker, he would stylistically be a good fit at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old is a product of Benfica's famed youth system – which he joined aged 12 – and could be the latest in a long line of talents from the club to make a big-money move away from Lisbon.
Another player likely to have caught Ten Hag’s eye is Mohammed Kudus , whom he has already coached at Ajax – but the Ghanaian forward has burst into prominence this campaign with 10 goals at club level and a fine World Cup showing for his nation. Despite their group stage exit, Kudus bagged a double in the win over South Korea.
