Benfica president Rui Costa has effectively ruled out selling Goncalo Ramos during the January transfer window.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle are all said to be pursuing the Portuguese international but Costa says the striker won’t leave the Estadio da Luz without a club triggering his release clause:

“We have the sole objective of having a winning season, no player will leave – unless it is due to the clause – which at this moment is fundamental for the squad. What I can promise our supporters is what I did at the beginning of the year. This is a sporting project, not a financial one. Fortunately, we are not experiencing financial problems and we have no need to sell players.”

Ramos’s reported buyout fee is €120m (£103m) and you can’t see United tabling a bid of that size for the player, even though he is a very promising young talent.

Alternative options are likely to be sought. Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix and PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo have been touted as potential targets over the past few weeks, but neither is an out-and-out forward.

Manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the club “are working in the background to get the right players in.” It remains to be seen, though, who the Red Devils will end up making a move for next month.