Manchester United are edging ever closer to signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, and that means Rasmus Hojlund could be heading out of the club very soon.
Newcastle have admitted defeat in the race for Sesko, and the Red Devils even have their unveiling plans at the ready. Now it is up to the club to find an agreement during face-to-face talks today.
As for the Dane, he was abysmal last season, struggling not only in front of goal but also with his overall gameplay.
Ruben Amorim was desperate for reinforcements, and after missing out on multiple targets, INEOS finally seem to have their man.
The 20-time English league champions are unlikely to keep the ex-Atalanta ace at the club, even though their No.9 has publicly revealed his desire to stay and fight for his place.
AC Milan want Rasmus Hojlund
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 22-year-old is slowly warming to the idea of returning to the Serie A, where AC Milan are showing concrete interest.
There have been positive contacts between the Rossoneri and the Denmark international, and now, everything will depend on the deal Milan offer the English giants.
The Italian side would prefer a loan with an option to buy, similar to the deal United agreed with Barcelona for Marcus Rashford.
But INEOS are unlikely to accept. Hojlund earns far lesser and they want a permanent solution. They are even prepared to take a PSR hit with the sale, with the co-owners open to offers around £30 million.
Interestingly, Massimiliano Allegri wanted a reunion with Dusan Vlahovic, but his wage demands are considered significant, and Juventus are unlikely to relent till they have got their signings onboard.
United are more open to a sale right now, having already signed their quota of attackers.
“The Rossoneri now need a penalty-box striker to complete their squad. Officially, there’s no rush on the club’s radar, as they understand that, as the weeks go by, those with surplus players will have to sell them at a bargain price. And negotiating Vlahovic with Juventus, once the Bianconeri have David and perhaps Kolo Muani in their squad, will certainly be easier than asking for the Serbian now.
“The same goes for Hojlund, but the timeline is shorter, given that United are now on the verge of completing the signing of Sesko, having already strengthened their attacking lineup with Cunha and Mbeumo. The former Atalanta Dane, in short, is already… surplus to requirements, Vlahovic not yet because at the moment he is David’s alter ego.
United want £30m, Milan prefer a loan
“The asking price for Hojlund is around £30 million, or €34.5 million, but the feeling is that the price and even the terms are further negotiable. Rashford, for example, went to Barcelona on loan with a €30 million option to buy. Milan could opt for such a deal, but United isn’t willing to grant it now because Hojlund earns much less than Rashford.
“AC Milan’s initial contact with Rasmus has been positive, ever since he was offered the deal in recent weeks: he’d like to try a new adventure in Serie A because he knows the league and the challenge against the Red Devils appeals to him. He’s said yes to the transfer.
“The Dusan deal is currently more complicated, not only because Juventus aren’t overbooked in attack like United, but also because the Serbian’s salary is €12 million net per season, and Milan’s offer of €6-7 million net for next season without Champions League football would risk blowing the wage bill.”
Getting rid of Rasmus Hojlund will be a huge help, and his sale could partly pay for the Sesko operation.
And in order to get the Carlos Baleba deal over the line, the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and Antony also need to be moved on for decent sums.
Feature image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
