MU has the advantage over Arsenal in the race to sign Rayan

MU has officially joined and is dominating Arsenal in the race to sign 19-year-old striker Rayan from Vasco da Gama, according to Bola. However, the possibility of closing the deal in January is still in doubt as Vasco confirmed that they are close to extending the contract with this talent.

Rayan Portrait: Statistics and Style

In the 2025 Brazilian Serie A season, Rayan scored 11 goals in 27 matches for Vasco da Gama. In all competitions in 2025, he scored 16 goals in 46 appearances. Rayan is described as having a strong physique, a decisive playing style, full of energy and the ability to flexibly take on many positions in the attack.

This playing style helps Rayan be assessed as "having the appearance of a Premier League player", thereby attracting special attention from MU in the context of the club pursuing a strategy of hunting for young talent.

Why MU entered the game and is considered a heavyweight

According to Bola, Manchester United have officially joined the race to sign Rayan and are one of the strongest candidates for the January transfer window, even said to be dominating Arsenal. This is in line with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment and management of the sports division at Man Utd, with the statement that he wants to "discover the next Mbappé" instead of just buying established stars.

Compare to Adriano and testimonials

With his powerful style and outstanding physical foundation, Rayan is considered the "successor" of Adriano, the former Inter Milan striker. Commentator Neto even emphasized: "For me, Vasco's Rayan will be even better than Adriano. He has a similar playing style, but much more technical. Rayan is the biggest discovery of the Brazilian National Championship this year."

Big hurdle: Vasco speeds up renewal

Although MU is said to have the advantage, the possibility of completing the deal early is still unclear. Vasco da Gama's sporting director, Mr. Admar Lopes, shared that the team "has the situation under control" and is getting closer to extending Rayan's contract.

Statements from Vasco da Gama

“With Rayan, we are in control of the situation and are doing everything we can to extend it. 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 increase all the terms, from salary, duration to release clause, to protect the interests of Vasco,” said Admar Lopes.

Impact before January transfer window

If Vasco does complete the extension, the increased terms will complicate the race for interested parties. In the short term, it raises questions about Rayan's ability to leave the club in January, although MU is considered by Bola as a strong candidate and is dominating Arsenal.

Notable numbers

• 19 years old (2025).
• 11 goals/27 matches in Serie A Brazil 2025.
• 16 goals/46 matches in all competitions in 2025.
• Rated as having the appearance of a Premier League player.

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