On a loan or a permanent exit, Rasmus Hojlund is expected to leave Manchester United this summer.
Failing to deliver on what he was bought for: to score goals left, right and centre, has prompted disappointed United to move him on.
The 20-time English champions are now banking on £74 million summer recruit Benjamin Sesko to give their attack the cutting edge it has been missing.
Ruben Amorim is so confident in the Slovenian hitman impressing alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo that he has told Hojlund: If you want to play, you had better move elsewhere.
Fortunately for United’s number nine, top Italian sides are keen to battle for his signature.
Three-horse race
Napoli, AC Milan, and now even Atalanta are all keen to bring Hojlund back to Serie A.
Of the trio, Milan was thought to be the favourite, having held talks with United over a £6 million loan deal with a £35 million option to buy.
While United were ready to close the deal swiftly, Hojlund’s hesitation stalled the transfer.
Despite the striker’s reluctance, the Rossoneri, who also have Dusan Vlahovic on their radar, were still prioritising his transfer.
Milan boss not sold on Hojlund despite strong links
As INEOS anticipate a fierce Italian battle for him, Alfredo Pedulla has dropped an intriguing Milan update on the chase.
“Let me tell you something,” said Pedulla on the Italian Football Podcast. “Milan are tracking two or three strikers. If it were up to Allegri, they’d sign Vlahović and not Højlund.
“Maybe Hojlund arrives, but for them, Vlahovic is more of a priority. He’s a better player than Hojlund. Vlahovic can guarantee you 15–18 goals. Hojlund is a question mark — I don’t know.
“When Hojlund was in Italy, before leaving Atalanta for Manchester United, he’d scored 7–8 goals. He hasn’t scored many at United either.”
While Pedulla suggests Milan’s head coach may not favour the Hojlund swoop, the club appears to think differently, hence the “if it were up to him” remark.
That is what matters for United. INEOS would love that.
They would relish Milan pushing from one end, Napoli from the other, and Atalanta also trying their luck to get a piece of the 22-year-old.
In the end, the Red Devils might get what they want, Hojlund gone, and at the fee they were hoping for.
Hojlund should thrive if understood
Massimiliano Allegri may be unsure about Hojlund, but ex-Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Tuttomercatoweb), has hinted at why the striker could flourish if Milan understand his game:
“Every striker has important characteristics, but many overlook how crucial the team’s work is to a striker’s performance.
“Hojlund seems to me the classic player who finishes off his teammates’ moves, with well-defined traits. He’s not the type to create chances himself, perhaps by setting off on his own and dribbling past opponents.”
That is a perfect way to describe Hojlund, who some might argue was a player clearly set up to fail at United.
Were he to play in a team whose attack has clicked and is creating chance after chance, he might reach the levels many tipped him to.
So wherever he ends up, that team’s attack needs to be at its best because if it is, he could massively turn his fortunes around.
Featured image Patrick McDermott via Getty Images
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Daniel Onguko
Since Dan was introduced to Manchester United in 2008, he has lived and breathed the club. What started as being a fan evolved into writing about United, allowing him to feel part of their journey. Hopefully, his work might even help rekindle your love for the kings of Manchester.
