A touted star of the future, Rasmus Hojlund, is on the cusp of becoming a Manchester United player.
Manchester United fans are bound to be excited by the news because it means we’ve finally signed a centre-forward at a decent age (20) and stepped aside from the counter-productive cycle of buying 35+ y/o strikers, who need replacing every two years.
The 20-year-old made such an impression in his debut season at Atalanta that Erik ten Hag has pushed the boat out to sign the forward.
That will quench links with Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Randal Kolo Muani because Erik ten Hag has opted for a younger and more cost-effective Hojlund.
Hojlund is set to become United’s third signing of the summer following Mason Mount and Andre Onana. The Dane will be expected to add goals to the team.
However, sections of the UK media have already started spreading their own narrative on the transfer – that United are paying too much!
We know the striker market is a tough place and I don’t see of these journalists offering alternative options.
Most of them seem to think United missed a trick by not spending their money on Kane instead. That would be more money than we have because the Reds will need to sell players if they are to welcome more additions.
Without further ado, I am going to look at five reasons why United are right to sign Hojlund this summer as fellow Stretty News writers offer their verdicts.
Rising star in football
At the age of 20, Hojlund has scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for Atalanta. He’s shown pedigree on the international stage by scoring six goals in as many games for Denmark.
Ten Hag has found a striker with longevity that could improve with the team and service the club for many years to come. It’s important to note Hojlund was the youngster striker on Ten Hag’s list – Kane, Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos – which gives the impression that we are building a fresh squad that is likely to be dominated by talented young players.
Price and salary
Kane’s weekly wage at United would be north of £300k-per-week and we know Hojlund won’t be on a pay package anywhere near that region just yet. Furthermore, the club has been trying to sort out its wage structure to abide by FFP guidelines.
Tottenham priced Kane out of a move to Old Trafford. Daniel Levy is to blame for that – or Charlie Kane (depends who you ask!).
Desire to play for Manchester United
This is something United started to consider more with new signings in recent years and it’s really important. I don’t want footballers coming to Old Trafford for a payday to gloss up their lives on Instagram. United need determined footballers who don’t want to waste time on their quest to success.
You don’t need to do much digging on Hojlund to find posts about MUFC on his Facebook as a teenager. He’s a red and a fortunate one to have the required ability to represent the club.
Kane never pushed for a move to United when the opportunity was there. He wanted to join Man City in 2021.
Rasmus Højlund i 2015 😍⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ptwQgNZqIn
— Fredrik A. Filtvedt (@FAFiltvedt) July 29, 2023
Pace
Unlike Kane, kicking on after reaching his 30s, Hojlund is fast running with the ball at his feet. It was a trait that Atalanta used on the counter-attack, and a good trait for a modern-day number nine to enhance the level of ball retention in the attacking phase.
United should be quick in attack. Two fast wide players and a central piece that can also beat his man. It bodes well for the coming season and I can’t help but get excited about our new arrival. We must be patient with him.
Ten Hag is a systematic manager
The manager buys players to fit a system. The one key component that system lacked was a striker, so here comes Højlund to enter the fray. Kane would need to be a player that you build your attack around and people may counter with ‘Kane can drop deep and create’. However, we have Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount to do that.
Get the latest Manchester United news, opinion, interviews and exclusive features with the Stretty Newsletter – Ad Free! Kick off your afternoon with the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
A great buy now get amrabat and bring Greenwood back
great buy now get amrabat and bring Greenwood,pls (man unite )should not let our boy greenwood go.
Essentially we are talking about an act of faith, you usually are when you sign a young player from another country. A goal every 3.4 games in Italian football isn’t going to cut it in the premier league. So Hojlund will need to step up. If he does that then great, if he doesn’t then United will have wasted a lot of money. The article of course assumes success is a certainty when in fact, as always, its a gamble.
Nowhere in the article do I claim Hojlund is going to be a guaranteed success. I’m clearly in favour of his arrival and state we need to be patient. Of course he needs to step it up a level in the Premier League. He’s a 20-year-old prospect. A very promising one!
No signing by any club is a nailed on success. What’s different for us now is there is a plan. Compare our purchases with the random signings Chelsea made over the past year.
I feel much more confident about the players we’re bringing in under EtH than I have for many years. If we buy Amrabat, that will be the icing on the cake.
Cheap alternative sounds like a levy deal !
i want to see the giggs, rooney, ronaldo cum terves combination i.e garnacho mount rashford cvm hojlund combo.
The Coach knows what he wants even though he could be wrong. We hope it works. The coach maintains that his teams plays we with Marshall in it, so it all going to be an out and out striker been there and things will work out, all things been equal