Manchester United are reportedly set to intensify their pursuit of Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Following the addition of Mason Mount from Chelsea, the Red Devils are in hot negotiations with Inter Milan for goalkeeper Andre Onana. Erik ten Hag has fixed his eyes on making Onana his new No.1 next season after longtime servant David de Gea left the club upon the expiry of his contract last month. Once the signing of Onana is done, the Mancunian giants are set to switch their attentions toward bringing in a new striker.
According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are set to launch a £50 million bid for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund. However, a transfer may not be finalised until after the club’s takeover is complete, the report adds.
Hojlund, 20, burst onto the scene last season and scored nine goals for Atalanta in 32 Serie A games, whilst netting six goals in five caps for Denmark. The young striker’s performances have caught Man United’s eye, and while there was interest earlier in the summer on both the Premier League club and the player’s end, the high asking price by Atalanta appeared to be throwing off negotiations at the time.
Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United—The perfect fit at Old Trafford?
Ten Hag has prioritised the signing of a new striker this summer after seeing his team rely heavily on Marcus Rashford for goals. With growing doubts over Anthony Martial’s future, he had targeted Tottenham talisman Harry Kane, but the club’s budget compressed by Financial Fair Play restrictions meant the Red Devils had to pull out of a potential deal.
Man United had identified both Rasmus Hojlund and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani as potential additions, and Ten Hag has chosen the former as his preference to strengthen his team’s forward line.
Hojlund has come to wider European attention on the back of a breakthrough season with Atalanta in Serie A. He scored 12 goals in 21 games at Austrian outfit Sturm Graz during the second half of the 2021/22 season which prompted Atalanta to fork around €17m for his services last summer. The Danish striker adjusted relatively quickly to the demands of Serie A and Atalanta fans began to see the best of him this year, with eight of nine goals coming in the second half of this past campaign.
Clearly, Hojlund is not on the level of Kane or Muani, but he is considered a player of massive potential after his exploits in Serie A. The 20-year-old is viewed as a more attainable target than Muani, and while his goal returns do not signal a ruthless finisher, his overall game is the main appeal for Ten Hag as he wants a No.9 that impacts the whole team.
Standing at 6ft 1ins tall, the five-cap Denmark international is a powerful runner with an explosive burst of acceleration over short distances that helps him breeze past markers. He is very good at linking play with fellow forwards while the youngster’s pace would be useful in a United side that often looks to break quickly against opponents. The Dane also packs a powerful shot on his left foot and has the tools to provide a focal point in attack, which Ten Hag’s side are currently lacking.
If United can wrap up a deal for Hojlund in the range of £50-£60 million, it would represent a bargain in today’s age and market.