Manchester United have identified Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund as their primary target to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the start of the new Premier League season.
Following the capture of Mason Mount from Chelsea, United have now switched their focus to bolstering other areas of the squad. The club plans to recruit a first-choice goalkeeper and a new No.9, identifying Andre Onana of Inter Milan and Hojlund as their leading candidates to fill each role.
The ongoing takeover situation means that United are having to box clever in this summer's transfer window, with half of their starting budget understood to have been wiped out with the addition of Mount. United, ideally, need to step up their efforts to shift some of the deadwood within the squad, though that is a much easier said than done task.
Nevertheless, signing a striker was United's primary objective ahead of the window opening last month and it is a mission they cannot afford to fail to complete. The Reds struggled for goals via an out-and-out striker last season and they cannot find themselves in the same scenario in 2023/24.
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United have identified Hojlund, 20, as an attainable target and football director John Murtough is now locked in discussions with Atalanta to see if a deal is doable. The Danish international, who has already held talks with Erik ten Hag, is considered as one of the most exciting prospects in European football.
Recent reports have suggested that Atalanta value Hojlund at just north of £85million, meaning there could be work for Murtough to do to try and drive the price down. Atalanta have failed to qualify for the Champions League for next season, meaning that could work to United's advantage.
Though he is a hugely exciting prospect, Hojlund only joined Atalanta from Sturm Graz 11 months ago and scored just ten goals in 34 games last term. Though it was a solid return, it isn't a record impressive enough to put him in the same bracket as the likes of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, both of whom are the most polished and complete strikers on United's shortlist, meaning United cannot risk paying over the odds.
However, they do need to beef up their forward options and Hojlund would give them that option. Ten Hag has the ability to improve young players and that should excite the forward.
In some ways, the prospect of United recruiting Hojlund is similar to the way in which Manchester City drafted in Julian Alvarez last summer. Both figures were unknown to almost everyone and Alvarez, though he was signed to provide back-up to Erling Haaland, didn't fail to disappoint, plundering 17 goals in his maiden season at City.
Despite Hojlund being three years Alvarez's junior, comparisons have been made between the duo in recent months, with some suggesting they both have the potential to become household names in years to come. Though Alvarez is likely to remain in Haaland's shadow for a few more years yet, Hojlund, should he be snapped up by the Reds, would immediately become the face of United's forward line. It is a big challenge for a 20-year-old, admittedly.
Nevertheless, Hojlund's underlying numbers, certainly in direct comparison with Alvarez's, are encouraging. Though there are huge differences in the nature of Serie A and the Premier League, some of the former's attacking metrics were encouraging last term.
For example, Hojlund managed 3.5 dribbles inside the final third per 90, averaged 7.69 attacking actions per 90 and 4.55 dribbles per 90 across the whole of the pitch. He is a mobile operator and that is what Ten Hag often likes to have within his front-three.
Alvarez, too, is also a mobile operator, capable of dropping deep and influencing games. Ten Hag likes every member of his squad to be a team player and Hojlund's metrics suggest he is.
He is also a physical operator, highlighted by the way in which he outclassed Alvarez in almost every parameter when it came to individual duels. He won 8.83 duels per 90, 1.14 aerial duels per 90 and 7.69 ground challenges per 90 last term.
Though their respective metrics are not the be all and end all, both players, should United land Hojlund, would have arrived in England with a point to prove, albeit with very different expectations in tow. Alvarez was signed by City as a back-up option while Hojlund would be signed to start every week.
Alvarez, though, quickly proved that he would be capable of starting for most Premier League clubs, producing a catalogue of impressive performances. Ralf Rangnick once recommended him to United and the Reds might now have to hope that Hojlund can be just as good.
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