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Who is reported Manchester United target Goncalo Guedes?

Benfica's Portuguese midfielder Gocalo Guedes celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B football match between Besiktas Ista
Image: Benfica starlet Goncalo Guedes has been linked with a January move to Manchester United

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Goncalo Guedes - but who is the Benfica winger dubbed "the new Cristiano Ronaldo"?

The 20-year-old has been at the forefront of the reigning Portuguese champions' title defence, featuring in all but two of their 18 Primeira Liga games this season.

Guedes' surprise omission from Benfica's squad for Sunday's victory over Tondela has fuelled speculation linking the Portugal international with a move away from the club.

So, with reports in Portugal claiming Jose Mourinho is lining up a move for Guedes, here's all you need to know about the promising forward ahead of a potential move to the Premier League..

Name: Goncalo Manuel Ganchinho Guedes

Date of Birth: 29/11/96

Club: Benfica

Also See:

Position: Winger/attacking midfielder

Nationality: Portuguese

International caps: 2

Background

Born within an hour of the Portuguese capital in Benavente, Guedes attracted the attention of Lisbon powerhouse Benfica aged just nine, joining the club's youth set-up in 2005.

Nurtured through the ranks of Benfica's academy, a 17-year-old Guedes made his professional debut for the club's B team against Porto B in April 2014.

Benfica's forward Goncalo Guedes (R) smiles as he and teammates arrive for a training session at the Benfica's training ground in Seixal, outskirts of Lisb
Image: Guedes got a taste of first-team action under Jorge Jesus before rising to prominence under Rui Vitoria

It wasn't long before the promising youngster was made his first-team bow, coming off the bench in October that year against Sporting Covilha in Taca de Portugal.

Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus gave Guedes his Primeira Liga debut from the bench too, the then 18-year-old brought on in the closing stages of a 3-0 victory over Penafiel in January 2015.

Keen to ease him into the first-team fold, Guedes remained at the heart of the Benfica B squad, continuing his development away from the pressure and scrutiny of the first team.

He would go on to make five appearances in Benfica's title-winning campaign in 2014/15, with the 32 he made for the club's B-team telling their own tale.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - AUGUST 21: Benfica's Portuguese forward Goncalo Guedes during the match between SL Benfica and Vitoria Setubal FC for the Portuguese Pri
Image: Has Guedes got his sights set on a switch to Old Trafford?

He certainly left his mark though, with Guedes going on to scoop the Segunda Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year award.

Blossoming at Benfica

Guedes' progression was not curtailed by Jesus' departure from the Estadio da Luz in the summer of 2015.

Instead, he played an influential role under new boss Rui Vitoria as the pair combined to deliver a third Primeira Liga title on the spin last term.

Guedes made 18 league appearances in Vitoria's debut season - 31 in all competitions - and bagged his first goals for the club under his stewardship, the first coming in a 3-0 victory over Pacos Ferreira in September 2015.

Benfica's Brazilian forward Jonas Oliveira (L) celebrates with his teammate Benfica's forward Goncalo Guedes (R) after scoring during the Portuguese league
Image: Guedes celebrates with Jonas Oliveira after scoring his first Benfica goal against Pacos Ferreira

Four days after that strike, Guedes became the youngest Portuguese player to score in the Champions League group stages, hitting the winner against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

He has since gone on to be a mainstay in the Benfica squad, earning valuable experiences in league, cup and European competition.

International career

Impressed with his breakthrough season at Benfica, Portugal head coach Fernando Santos drafted Guedes into his squad in November 2015 ahead of friendlies with Russia and Luxembourg.

In Ronaldo's absence, Guedes was handed his debut against Russia in Krasnodar but he was unable to have an influence as a late Roman Shirokov goal inflicted the first defeat of his international career.

Luxembourg's Daniel Da Mota (L) vies with Portugal's Goncalo Guedes (R) during the friendly football match between Luxembourg and Portugal at the Josy Bart
Image: Guedes' second, and to date last, international appearance came against Luxembourg in 2015

Guedes was named among the substitutes for the following friendly in Luxembourg, playing the final 27 minutes of a routine 2-0 victory.

The international call-up proved to be just a taster for young Guedes, with the then 19-year-old omitted from Santos' Euro 2016-winning squad in favour of Bayern Munich star Renato Sanches.

Style of play

Despite having just half a season to adapt to the demands of first-team football before Vitoria's arrival at Benfica, Guedes has continued to repay his manager's faith in him with an array of stunning goals and performances.

Guedes has thrived on the game-time, drawing similarities with Portugal captain, and former United favourite, Ronaldo due to his abundance of speed and skill.

Benfica's forward Goncalo Guedes (L) vies with Boavista's Brazilian defender Anderson Correia (R) during the Portuguese league football match SL Benfica vs
Image: Guedes has been dubbed the new Cristiano Ronaldo for his eye-catching performances

This season, he has scored seven goals, registered seven assists and maintained an impressive pass-completion rate of 84.1 per cent.

All this suggests that, while being a creative risk-taker, Guedes is precise and clinical enough to get the most out of his talent at the most critical moments.

Would he fit in?

Adept on either wing, centrally as a No 10 or off the lead striker, the 20-year-old's versatility has become a key characteristic of his game - and it's that versatility which would appeal to Mourinho.

With Memphis Depay offloaded to Lyon, and with Ashley Young reportedly mulling a big-money move to the Chinese Super League, the culmination of the January transfer window could leave the United boss lacking depth in wide positions.

Benfica midfielder Goncalo Guedes celebrates after scoring
Image: Guedes scored the opener in Benfica's thrilling 3-3 draw at Besiktas in November

Part of super-agent Jorge Mendes' ever-expanding stable - which also houses United boss Mourinho - a substantial hurdle in a potential move to Old Trafford appears navigable.

Young, hungry and with the bulk of his career in front of him, were reports in the Portuguese press - which claim United are closing in on a £26m deal - to materialise, Guedes would arguably represent value, with plenty of scope for Mourinho to mould him into the player he wants.

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