Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is open to joining Napoli in the coming days, but not on any formula.
Although he isn’t officially part of the so-called ‘bomb squad’ with Jadon Sancho and fellow outcasts, the 22-year-old has become surplus to requirements at Carrington since the arrival of Benjamin Sesko.
Ruben Amorim has made it abundantly clear by leaving the Dane on the bench for the duration of the friendly contest against Fiorentina, and then dropping him from the squad altogether ahead of the Premier League opener against Arsenal.
Rasmus Hojlund gradually omitted from Man United plans
In recent weeks, the former Atalanta star declared his intention to stay at Man Utd and fight for his place. However, the manager’s recent selections suggest that the striker might not be handed enough opportunities (if any) to prove himself.
Hence, this could be the right time to make a sensible decision and succumb to reality by accepting a move before the end of the summer.
The good news for Hojlund is that several Italian suitors have been chasing his signature for months. Even though AC Milan were the latest to drop out of the race, his future could still lie in Serie A.
As reported earlier this week, Napoli have opened talks with United for Hojlund after losing Romelu Lukaku to injury.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Denmark international is willing to sign for the Italian champions on loan, but only if the agreement includes an obligation to buy.
Why Hojlund insists on adding an obligation clause
As the Italian journalist explained on his YouTube channel, Hojlund wants to be certain that Napoli has faith in him, and this could only be stated through action rather than mere words.
Therefore, the Partenopei will have to guarantee the player a future at the Stadio Maradona, as he doesn’t wish to leave Carrington, only to return a year later and find himself in an awkward situation (similar to Sancho and Antony this summer).
With Lukaku ruled out of action for at least three months, there would be plenty of opportunities for Hojlund to prove his worth at Napoli, as the club’s only other striker is Lorenzo Lucca, while the Serie A champions will also feature in the Champions League this season.
