Rasmus Hojlund; a pragmatic solution to Manchester United's needs despite likely consequences

Rasmus Hojlund has emerged as a real target for Manchester United as they look to secure a main goalscorer, who will lead the lines for the club on a long-term.

Erik Ten Hag has opted for a different approach compared to previous managers of United in recent times, whom had all gone for players of different status.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Odion Ighalo, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wout Weghorst are strikers the club has signed post Sir Alex Ferguson era, all of whom arrived at the club in their 30s.

With Hojlund, United are looking to sign someone who just turned 20, though still has a lot more to learn to master the trade but at the same time, he has got the potentials to become one of the best around.

The striker position has been a major issue for the club as many of those who had been signed has not lived up to expectations, while those who did ended up leaving due to their already ending careers.

Cristiano Ronaldo and maybe Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the only two names who have made a real impact joining the club as striker signings of late.

The likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are forwards, who fit in either on the flanks or down the middle but given the impact a real Number 9 can make for a team, having one around is always a plus for managers.

Considering every other attacker at the club, bar Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony, really has no secured future in the Theater of Dreams having all failed to perform up to expectations, bringing in another one for the future is always a welcome thought.

Manchester United currently has no striker following the end of the loan deal for Dutch striker, Wout Weghorst and the potential arrival of Hojlund will not only make up for that but as well ensure they secure that position on a long-term and with one of the greatest prospects in world football today.

Who is Rasmus Hojlund 

Turned 20 in February, the Danish striker has come a long way since making his first team debut for Copenhagen as a 17 year old in October 2020.

He has then moved to Sturm Graz in Austria before joining his current club, Atalanta in the Italian top flight.

Hasn't even ammased up to 40 carrer goals as a professional but Hojlund's talent is making a lot of noise in the hears of top clubs in Europe, and the Red Devils can count themselves very lucky to be the only team vying for his signature.

In recent games, Hojlund has made himself Denmark's number one striker having made his debut in September 2022. He has since scored six goals in six games for his country and is currently joint top scorer in the ongoing UEFA Euro Qualification tournament.

Højlund is 1.91m tall and with his body frame, he has comparative advantage in duels, which makes him a monster at it.

Quick, pacey, extremely strong. You've watch Haaland play ? You've definitely seen what Hojlund is. Maybe not fully yet but could soon develop into, and maybe better in near future.

Højlund is very good on one-on-one dribbling, he is able to easily beat defenders better than Haaland.

Despite not being much of a box striker, over 70 per cent of his shots taken have been inside the area and all of his 30 career goals so far have come from inside the box.

In the Austrian Bundesliga, no player had more touches than his 106 in the opposition box since he made his debut till he left Sturm Graz.

His 106 touches is at least 23 more than that of any other player in the competition during the period.

Deadly when combining attributes with his physique, given that most time, he has to run with the ball passes/ chase it into the area, before getting a shot away.

Højlund is a clinical finisher. In the 2022-23 Serie A season, 64 per cent of his shots hit the target. That's a very good percentage for a league ranked in the top five. Even Haaland managed 56 per cent in the Premier League last season.

He is a great athlete while also possesses incredible shot power, he heavily relies on his left foot but also as deadly with his head when the ball is great.

Playing under Erik Ten Hag, he will only get better at the rate he is developing and learning.

How will Hojlund impact United

For every elite team, the main goalscorer is always the best player in the team. Take for instance Ronaldo with Real Madrid, Lionel Messi with Barcelona, Mohamed Salah with Liverpool and Erling Haaland with United's city rival, City.

This will also mean United are signing a 20 year old and place on him the burden of becoming the major source if goals for the club.

It is huge and if not well handled could break the career of the striker. However, the current situation at United provides a relief for Hojlund.

In recent times bar the 18 month duration that Cristiano Ronaldo's return lasted, Manchester United has not relied on any striker as their major source of goals.

Marcus Rashford as well has Bruno Fernandes have both share good percentage of the responsibility and both have proven reliable when available - especially their Portuguese midfielder, who rarely misses games.

The two, and others will ease the burden on Hojlund while he settles down, continues to develop and learn the trade in the company of the big name players currently on the books at Old Trafford.

Is Hojlund the best option for Manchester United ?

It's a crazy market already and it is no more news that it gets even crazier when the transaction is involving Manchester United.

Atalanta previously valued Hojlund at €30 millions but despite Manchester United ready to pay around €50 million to lure him away, the Italian club now reportedly want around €100 million.

For a 20-year old yet to really prove himself, it is a complicated investment for United, who will still be hopeful that Atalanta lower their demands in order that the two can reach a neutral agreement.

However, if a deal in the region of €60 million can be done, then it is enough a consolation for Manchester United, who appears to not have too many alternatives if they indeed want to outlive a past of signing aged strikers.

Of the top options available in this window are also strikers that will cost them way too much, or others who are also in their 30s or approving it.

Mehdi Taremi of Porto has been linked with the club this summer but the Iranian, who is now 31 is no different from the deals United had done in the past, and to add he will be arriving from Portugal, which is the top European league he's played in.

Harry Kane would have been a brilliant option but the fact that Tottenham are still bent on keeping him will be issues. Aside his age, he would also cost more than a 100 million euros, which is not a good deal for a player in his 30s.

Daniel Levy will also not make easy a potential deal as they are already working on a new and improved contract for the striker amidst interest from Bayern.

A delay in finalizing a deal will also not afford the needed time to prepare with the team for the new season. And what United need at this time is a player who will have pre-season with the squad and ready to go for the new season.

Romelu Lukaku is another option but is a former player for Manchester United, who failed to meet up to the required standard and endured a horrific spell at the club.

Concerns over the adaptability of Hojlund 

Attackers arriving in the Premier League from Italy has never have it good in the past.

Adrian Mutu, Adrily Shevchenko, Romelu Lukaku to mention but a few are big names who switched Italy for England buy find it difficult to replicate the brilliance that propelled their signature.

Despite Hojlund being an entirely different profile, it is not enough to not raise alarm of the fate of strikers signed from Italy.

However, United can also take courage in the fact that when compared with Erling Haaland, who had a feast on debut season in England, there are signs that Hojlund will definitely be a hit.

Of course there is still concerns over his aerial abilities but still only 20 as aforementioned, the years will see him develop more in his shape and improve his flaws.

Future with Rasmus Hojlund

Every top team needs a striker that can ammase up to at least 30 goals a season across all competitions, most especially in the league.

Hojlund, still very raw but if all goes well with him, will definitely on a long-term fill the void of a major source of goals for Manchester United, at least in more than a decade to come.

He has all it takes while Manchester United, under Erik Ten Hag are also setting a platform for him to thrive. He will be the Dutchman's Erling Haaland, scoring goals for fun.

€60 million for one of the best prospects of a rare profile is a good risk to make. Also taking into consideration that he has age on his side.

It remains to be seen if both clubs will reach a neutral ground but United have to make necessary efforts, because this could be a signing that defines their fate in the near future. Hence they can not leave it to chance and risk missing out.

Kehinde Hassan Afolabi