Rasmus Hojlund is set to leave Manchester United this week with the Danish striker appearing to have accepted his time at Old Trafford has reached an end.
A fall from grace
The signing of Benjamin Sesko – a 22-year-old striker with a potent pairing of pace and physicality – has left no room for Hojlund, a player with the same profile, in Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Hojlund has not been included in the matchday squad for either of United’s opening fixtures for the season. This has led the Denmark international to reassess his wish to remain with the Red Devils this season and fight for his place – because it is evident it is a fight Amorim is unwilling to let him win.
There is acceptance amongst the United executive branch that any exit for Hojlund is likely to be a loan given his dismal form over the past twelve months, with only four league goals last season.
A return to Italy was the most obvious solution for both parties with AC Milan emerging as a frontrunner while the striker’s former club, Atalanta, also expressed interest in a reunion.
But it is Napoli, Serie A champions last year, who have accelerated ahead of the pack to sign Hojlund after frontman Romelu Luakaku sustained a serious injury in the final game of pre-season.
This has led Antonio Conte’s side to push hard to convince Hojlund he should spend this season in Naples, deputising for Lukaku in his absence with the Belgian expected to be ruled out for three months.
Napoli make their move
Napoli are in talks with United over a loan with an obligation to buy if certain KPI (key performance indicators) are met. The initial loan fee is believed to be worth £4 million.
And the Neapolitan side have now agreed terms with Hojlund over a loan switch to the Serie A champions, according to Italian football expert Gianluca Di Marzio.
Writing this evening, Di Marzio reveals, “a preliminary agreement has just been reached with the former Atalanta player. Negotiations with Manchester United have also progressed on a loan deal with an option to buy.
“Napoli’s current priority in these final days of the transfer window is to close the deal for a striker, and then focus on working on the midfield, where the names of Brescianini and Elmas remain top of mind.”
Napoli still need to strike an agreement with United over the exact nature of the loan, but acceptance from Hojlund is a major hurdle which has now been cleared. United are desperate to shift him before the September 1 deadline and any money received for the Dane is welcome.
This means this latest development from Italy will provide a boost ahead of an important final week of the summer with pressure on Amorim already building after a disappointing start to the season.
If players like Hojlund, Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho can be found homes away from the Theatre of Dreams, this may free up enough funds to secure the Portuguese coach the reinforcements he still so clearly needs.
Featured image Patrick McDermott via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
