Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos has been linked with a move to Southampton, but the feeling was that Newcastle & Wolves were ahead of us in the pecking order, but now it seems that one of them has pulled out.

Saints are being linked with Benfica's Goncalo Ramos, the 21 year old centre forward came to prominence last season when he burst into the Portuguese sides with 7 goals in 17 starts and 12 appearances off the bench.

This season he has followed up his good form with a goal in Benfica's opening two Liga Portugal games plus 2 assists as well as 4 goals in 3 Champions League qualifying games with another assist.

Saints were seen as down the pecking order, but it seems that Newcastle are now not prioritising a Centre Forward and more to the point it was felt that Ramos would not want to go to a club where he would be back up, he wants to play and would not get that up on Tyneside.

Wolves have also been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old and with their record of Portuguese signings that is understandable, but with a plethora of forwards on the books including Neto & Raul again Ramos might feel that his path to the first team might be blocked.

With a contract running to 2026, Benfica are in no hurry to let him go and certainly not cheaply. A fee of around £25m has been rumoured, with media outlet The Athletic also claiming in a piece last night that Southampton have held talks with the in-form forward.

The Telegraph, a newspaper that has in the past few years been close to Southampton as a club in terms of media leaks also make the same claims. going further and stating that the club's owners are willing to back Ralph Hasenhuttl in the transfer market.

Saints would have to break the club's transfer record to land Ramos, but if they did they would undoubtably bring in a big chunk of that fee by selling Che Adams to Everton or even Nottingham Forest.

The have stated that Adams is not for sale and will be at the club next season, but every player has his price and the club's strategy is to buy and sell players over a period of time and this looks like a good piece of business.

Photo: Action Images

SaintPaulVW added 10:28 - Aug 18 This seems to stack up. However, given the investment already made by the club in this window you are right that someone will need to be sold. Che seems to be the only one that there are any rumours about so I guess sadly it will probably be him.
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WestSussexSaint added 10:51 - Aug 18 Wolves have just splashed £30m+ on a player from Sporting Lisbon so doubt they will have the money for this as well. The Wolves link is probably just because the lad is Portuguese. Would be an attractive signing for Saints but I worry Saints isn’t attractive to the player given he is playing in the Champions League with his current club.
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ElijahK added 10:51 - Aug 18 You say that SaintPaul but if we were to sell McCarthy, Stephens and Romeu, I’d of thought that would be enough combined to make up a large proportion of give fee we’d have to pay for him. And even then, we need another striker, so selling one isn’t really gonna sort that’s issue out, but rather make it less severe (but even then that’s only if it works out and he’s any good). As yeah I’d of thought that if we do buy him and another centre half (as well as maybe that Man U midfielder/another fullback) then we’d need to get a bit more money in through player sales, but for just this Ramos, I think we may be able to keep hold of Che I’d the others were to go.

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kenis added 11:12 - Aug 18 Presumably the transfer fee wont be the main issue it will be the overall player wages, which is why McCarthy, Stephens/Bednarek, Romeu, Walcott and possibly even Redmond might have to make way. Cant see us getting large fees for any of them - and possibly only even getting loans with wages paid. However I cant see Romeu's wages being much higher than Garner's would be if hes a direct replacement and really thing we'd miss Romeu's leadership. Also cant think that the centre half options out there (assuming we would want another one) would be any better than Stephens/Bednarek even if Stephens has an error/lapse every 3 games or so and Bednarek hasnt yet matured/seasoned and still relies on his athleticism to be effective - he isnt yet the reader of the game / general at the back he could become. I know Redmond can sometimes frustrate but I think we should be keeping him as I'm sure he would be called on an make a significant contribution at some point during the season up front or as a no.10 or winger.

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kenis added 11:15 - Aug 18 oh - and no way we can sell Che Adams to one of our potential relegation rivals. And thats putting aside how it should always be him and then one of Mara/Armstrong/[new signing] given his overall contribution. Maybe if someone offered £30m+ for him or he's refusing to sign an contract extension, but below that, would not even entertain a discussion.
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Centurion added 11:38 - Aug 18 Hope this works out but I will not let myself get all worked up until the deal is over the line.
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Farlow added 11:58 - Aug 18 Sounds like a good buy but to sell Romeu would be ridiculous,as good as Lavia looks Hes too young to play all season so we need cover,if they sell someone it might as well be Diallo whos too lightweight.
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SaintPaulVW added 12:40 - Aug 18 ElijahK Although I agree there are other players who I would prefer to see sold. Unfortunately it's Che who seems to be the one that other sides are interested in. I'd rather not sell him, he's a good player, but if we need to get money in to make the transfer books balance then he may have to go to make this work.
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Springhill_old_boy added 12:50 - Aug 18 Ok here is what they are saying over here in Portugal. There have supposedly been talks between the clubs. Benfica price him at around 40 million euro, so dont think that 25 million sterling will be enough especially as they sold Darwin for megabucks. He is not one of the big earners at the club but he is Benfica 100% so emotionally it could be an issue .. It could also depend heavily on the result next week with Benfica defending a 2-0 lead and playing at home should be enough to qualify for the Champions League where he would more than likely start (As they have sold both Darwin and Seferovic this summer his main competition is the Ukranian Yarumchuk and the Croatian lad Musa who they signed from Boavista .. there is another youngster called Henrique Araujo that they want to develop so there could be an opening) ...

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DPeps added 13:57 - Aug 18 The issue with Che may be less to do with money and more because Ramos will want guarantees of first team football, and we could probably only offer that through selling someone
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Colburn added 17:25 - Aug 18 Whatever happened to in Ralph we trust? Either we get rid if him or leave him alone to be trusted to make the right decisions on all incoming and outgoings... Personally, Garner will be a fantastic signing and has a variety within his skill set. Can't comment on the striker at Benfica but as with Mara, if others were also keen then he's impressed a few scouts. I'm equally as hopeful we'll bring in a full back soon as cover. I don't see the need to sell Adams to fund another striker, it makes no sense as it would leave us with just 3 again, not enough if one gets injured, no subs or we play one up top.. So I can't see Adams going unless we bring in another after Ramos.

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IWOZTHERE added 19:07 - Aug 18 We weren't short in midfield but we've signed two? Both new guys look to have big potential so great, but it wasn't a priority. Forgetting Diallo, we've five guys worthy of a place, so someone's nose will be out of joint even if Romeu goes. Why go for another in Garner when that money could be used where really needed?
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DPeps added 20:51 - Aug 18 Having watched a few videos of Ramos, he does look very good. Great in the air, skillful, good on and off the ball. I know you can't always tell with these things, but fingers crossed
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Block8 added 10:05 - Aug 19 Bring in him and Garner and then maybe cash in on JWP?
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