Goncalo Ramos could prove to be a man in demand after a marking his first World Cup start with a scintillating hat-trick. The young Benfica striker was called upon to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and helped lead Portugal to a stunning knockout rout of Switzerland to book a quarter-final spot.
Ramos netted a treble on his first international start in the 6-1 victory on Tuesday night, and is surely a shoo-in to keep his starting spot in the upcoming clash with Morocco on Saturday. It is the latest milestone in a remarkable year for the 21-year-old, who has emerged as Benfica's leading marksman in the wake of Darwin Nunez's summer exit.
Newcastle United were among the Premier League clubs credited with an interest in Ramos over the summer. Reports from Portugal indicated the Magpies were leading the race for the striker's signature, only to opt for a club-record move for Alexander Isak.
READ MORE: Newcastle question has already been asked on Goncalo Ramos as World Cup treble sends price soaring
The arrival of the Sweden international along with Callum Wilson's form this season makes an approach for Ramos in the near future unlikely. The latest reports suggest Manchester United are mulling over a mid-season move, with previous claims over a £34 million price tag likely to now be subject to a World Cup premium.
Benfica's appointment of Roger Schmidt as the club's new manager in May cast doubt over the future of a host of first-team stars. Nunez's transfer to Liverpool created a void up front, and Ramos was not viewed as his undisputed successor.
However, a hat-trick against FC Midtjylland in a Champions Leagues qualifier has proven to be the start of a prolific campaign to date for Ramos. The striker has netted 14 goals in 21 appearances in an unbeaten start to the season for Benfica, with the Portuguese giants sat top of the league and booking their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League.
Reflecting on Ramos' form since Newcastle's interest, Portuguese football expert and founder of website PortuGOAL.net Tom Kundert told ChronicleLive: "It's been quite surprising for quite a lot of people how much of a central role Ramos has played in Benfica's sensational start to the season. It's quite unusual for the big clubs in Portugal to give a young striker that much responsibility as their number one centre-forward.
"One thing which has benefitted his game a lot is last season, he had to play second fiddle to Nunez who was Benfica's number one. Nunez was much more advanced and through the middle, and Ramos usually dropped back as the second striker which probably wasn't his game.
"But I think it benefitted him because he's got good link-up play and he spent a whole season working on that side of his game. This season, we've seen the best of both worlds. His biggest asset is that he's so intelligent with his positional play, but also linking up really well with his colleagues.
"It's his job to score the goals now at the top end of the pitch, and to be fair that was probably always what he was destined to be. Ramos has made that position his own, he's been so impressive and there's been no discussion since. These last few months could not have got any better for him."
It is this form which catapulted Ramos into Fernando Santos' World Cup squad in Qatar. Injuries for Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto opened the door for a call-up, and Kundert insists that only a couple of months ago, there was 'no chance' that Ramos would represent his country in the tournament.
Ramos showcased his range of finishing with his hat-trick against Switzerland, opening the scoring through sheer power before showing finesse to dink the ball over Yann Sommer for his third goal. Despite the striker's record in front of goal this term, Kundert admits there remains some concerns over his clinical edge.
Kundert explained: "It's funny to say as he's got such a good goalscoring record this season, but I think he could improve his finishing. He's scored 14 goals in 21 games, but some criticism has come his way even from Benfica fans that he is a little bit wasteful.
"He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Like most prolific strikers, most of his goals are not really spectacular. They're just being in the right place at the right time in and around the six-yard box. It's almost always one touch, and he's got a good aerial game as well.
"I think possibly with age and experience, he can become a bit more clinical so that he could score even more goals. I think his all-round game at the moment, I can't see any obvious weakness. I really think it's all there already, he perhaps just needs to be a little bit more composed and clinical for those chances which comes his way."
Eddie Howe has already warned the Toon Army not to expect another spending spree in the upcoming transfer window. Given Isak's arrival, Wilson's form and the club's reported stance over interest in Chris Wood, it seems as though any lingering interest in Ramos has been put on ice.
Manchester United appear to be the current frontrunners, raising the intriguing prospect of Ramos replacing Ronaldo for both club and country. Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Wolves have also been credited with a recent interest in the striker.
The Magpies currently sit third in the table, raising the prospect of an unlikely push for Champions League football next season. Kundert believes participation in Europe's elite competition would lead Ramos and other top talents from across the continent to view a potential switch to St James' Park as a 'superb move'.
He said: "One of the most important things for their careers is playing Champions League football every season. If Newcastle continue the season they're having and get into the Champions League, I think if they do that most people would expect them to be regulars once they've broken through that glass ceiling.
"I think I'd see this as a great move for Ramos, it is quite an exciting project to join. I'm pretty sure if any of the top talents in Portugal will look to make the move to England, I think Newcastle will be one of the clubs that they're looking to join. If Newcastle get into the Champions League, from his point of view it would be a superb move."
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