“No longer scary”: United loanee has achieved the unthinkable in replacing legendary striker

Rasmus Hojlund is flourishing at Napoli, quickly becoming the focal point of their attack while on loan from Manchester United. To find out where all of United’s loaned players are playing this season, click here. Following on from his loan move, the 22-year-old has already produced several solid performances for the Serie A club, including scoring a brace late last year. Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport has now compared Hojlund’s numbers with Napoli’s injured striker Romelu Lukaku, suggesting the latter could return as the second choice if the former keeps delivering. Strong output Gazzetta reports that the Dane has scored nine goals and recorded two assists in 23 appearances so far, with an expected goals (xG) of 7.26 and expected assists (xA) of 1.68. The outlet also claims he often drops into the final third to help Napoli progress the ball, offering more involvement in build-up play than the Belgian typically provides. In addition, Hojlund won 3.09 duels per match, compared to Lukaku’s 2.32 across last season. Napoli’s coaching staff now appears to have a forward who can compete, combine, and keep attacks moving. This is one reason why, as the report puts it, Lukaku’s absence is “no longer scary”. One clear warning Despite these strengths, there is one area where Lukaku still holds an edge. Gazzetta states that the 32-year-old converted 60.9% of big chances last season, while Hojlund’s conversion rate is listed at 42.1%. Lukaku is currently sidelined with a high-grade injury to the rectus femoris in his left thigh and is expected to be out for at least five months, giving Hojlund time to cement his place. For United supporters, this development signals that Hojlund is evolving into a more complete striker on loan. With Napoli’s form, a permanent move could be on the cards (the loan reportedly includes an option to buy). Featured image Marco M. Mantovani via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, source-led updates on team news, transfers, and matchday reaction. A former teacher, he now coaches grassroots football and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16 years old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.