Newcastle United are reportedly ready to pounce for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, as manager Eddie Howe continues his search for a new attacking recruit.

What's the word?

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies are believed to be readying an approach for the Portuguese starlet, with the 21-year-old said to be available for a figure above €30m (£25m).

Writing on Twitter about that interest in the promising marksman, the transfer insider wrote: "Newcastle are preparing a proposal for Gonçalo Ramos as new top target. Discussions ongoing on player side and talks will continue with Benfica. Paris Saint-Germain have Ramos in their list since June but there's still nothing agreed - Newcastle, on it too."

The northeast side will face competition for his signature, however, with newly-promoted side Nottingham Forest - whom Howe's men beat at the weekend - also believed to be eyeing a move to continue their extensive summer of recruitment.

As for the Tynesiders, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie recently revealed that the club are likely to pursue a deal for a new centre-forward - and a winger - before the window is out, with all three additions thus far having been defensive-minded.

Howe's own Darwin Nunez

The "incredibly prolific" gem - as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig - is a player that Newcastle already know all about, with the highly-rated starlet having netted in the recent 3-2 defeat against the Primeira Liga side in pre-season.

That early header set the tone for what has been a blistering start to the new campaign for the 6 foot 1 menace, having already provided three goals and three assists in just three games in all competitions thus far, notably netting a hat-trick in the Champions League, first-leg qualifying victory over FC Midtjylland.

That sparkling goalscoring form would suggest that the £12.6m-rated man is ready to build on last season's breakthrough campaign, having netted seven goals in 29 league games for the Lisbon outfit.

The Olhao-born hotshot also notably netted his solitary Champions League goal of the 2021/22 season in the 3-3 draw with Liverpool back in April, having formed an electric attacking partnership with recent Anfield arrival, Darwin Nunez.

The hope for Howe and co will be that the Portugal U21 international - who has scored 14 goals in just 18 caps at that level - can prove to be the Magpies' own Nunez, with the latter man having already made a stunning impact on Merseyside thus far.

The Uruguay international - who was signed on an £85m deal earlier this summer - notably netted late on to secure victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield, before shining off the bench against Fulham at the weekend after laying on a goal and an assist in the 2-2 draw.

The 23-year-old had hit the headlines after scoring 34 goals in all competitions last term, including 26 goals in just 28 league games to firmly put himself on the radar of clubs across Europe.

While not a youth product, Nunez is seemingly yet another success story of the Benfica talent factory, with the likes of Joao Felix, Ruben Dias, Ederson et al having all been sold on by the club in recent times and gone on to blossom elsewhere.

Ramos could well be set to follow suit.