MU holds the advantage over Arsenal in the race to sign Rayan.

According to Bola, Manchester United have officially entered the race and are currently ahead of Arsenal in the competition to sign 19-year-old striker Rayan from Vasco da Gama. However, the possibility of finalizing the deal in January remains questionable, as Vasco has stated they are close to extending the player's contract.

Rayan portrait: statistics and style

In the 2025 Brazilian Serie A season, Rayan scored 11 goals in 27 matches for Vasco da Gama. Across all competitions in 2025, he had 16 goals in 46 appearances. Rayan is described as possessing strong physical fitness, a decisive and energetic playing style, and the ability to flexibly play in multiple attacking positions.

This style of play has led Rayan to be considered "like a Premier League player," thus attracting particular interest from Manchester United, as the club pursues a strategy of scouting young talent.

Why is MU considered a strong contender upon entering the race?

According to Bola, Manchester United have officially entered the race to sign Rayan and are one of the strongest contenders for the January transfer window, even reportedly ahead of Arsenal. This aligns with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's direction after investing in and taking over the sporting operations at Man Utd, with his stated desire to "discover the next Mbappé" rather than just buying established stars.

Comparison with Adriano and testimonials

With his powerful style and superior physical attributes, Rayan is being hailed as the "successor" to Adriano, the former Inter Milan striker. Commentator Neto even emphasized: "For me, Rayan of Vasco will be even better than Adriano. He has a similar playing style, but is much more technically gifted. Rayan is the biggest discovery of the Brazilian league this year."

Major obstacle: Vasco is accelerating the renewal process.

Although MU is believed to have the advantage, the likelihood of completing the deal soon remains unclear. Vasco da Gama's sporting director, Admar Lopes, shared that the team "has the situation under control" and is close to extending Rayan's contract.

Statement from Vasco da Gama

Admar Lopes said: “With Rayan, we have the situation under control and are doing everything we can to extend the contract. Negotiations are going well with the family, the agent, and the player himself. We believe that in the next few weeks, or at the latest by the end of the year, a new contract will be signed, which is also Rayan's wish. This extension will raise all terms, from salary and duration to release clause, in order to protect Vasco's interests.”

Impact ahead of the January transfer window

If Vasco completes the contract extension, the increased terms will complicate the race for interested parties. In the short term, this raises questions about Rayan's potential departure in January, even though MU is considered a strong contender by Bola and currently holds an advantage over Arsenal.

The numbers are noteworthy.

• 19 years old (in 2025).
• 11 goals in 27 matches in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A season.
• 16 goals in 46 matches across all competitions in 2025.
• He is considered to have the physique of a Premier League player.

The combination of playing style, statistics, and Manchester United's recruitment strategy has made the Rayan deal a hot topic ahead of the January transfer window, although his near future still largely depends on the progress of the contract extension between Rayan and Vasco da Gama.