What’s the latest on Hojlund’s move to Manchester United?
According to Terry Flowers of The Football Terrace, the Red Devils are in “talks” to sign the Denmark international this summer, with both the 20-year-old and Harry Kane potentially on their way to Old Trafford.
The transfer insider wrote on Twitter: “Manchester United have begun concrete talks with Rasmus Hjlund’s team and are very keen to sign him this summer, thus the deal is on & active.”
“Harry Kane remains the top target, and United could sign both.”
This comes after the Manchester Evening News stated that the former Sturm Graz striker, who is valued at over £60 million by his present employers, has already held video discussions with Erik ten Hag about a possible move to England.
Is Hojlund a decent signing for Manchester United?
While not a household name like Kane, Hojlund has certainly placed himself on the map after a successful debut season in Serie A, scoring ten goals and providing four assists in 34 games across all competitions for the Bergamo-based team.
Hailed as “scary quick” by journalist Sacha Pisani, the promising starlet – who has five goals in four senior appearances for his country – has also caught the eye due to his apparent resemblance to Manchester City’s Norwegian machine, Erling Haaland, with Hojlund himself stating:
“There are similarities between myself and Erling Haaland.” He is quick, left-footed, tall, has a terrific nose for goal, and finishes with style. His mental state is equally ridiculous!”
In terms of United, the hope is that the former Copenhagen jewel can mimic another Scandinavian strike machine in the type of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who arrived in Manchester as something of an unknown commodity back in 1996.
While many will recall Solskjaer’s mixed tenure in charge of the club, which ended in November 2021 after the one-time Cardiff City manager was relieved of his duties, the ‘Baby-faced assassin’ remains a cult hero due to his playing exploits, having memorably scored the winning goal in the Champions League final in 1999.
At the age of 23, he was purchased from Norwegian team Molde for around £1.5 million and went on to show a remarkable bargain, scoring 126 goals in 366 games over the next 11 years under Sir Alex Ferguson’s watchful eye.
Much like Hojlund, who has been characterized as “clinical” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Solskjaer was absolutely lethal in front of goal in his prime, as his goal record shows, and the expectation is that the Atalanta man can have a similar effect if he joins Ten Hag this summer.
There is also a similarity between the pair in that Solskjaer was seemingly signed by Ferguson after the famous Scotsman missed out on top target Alan Shearer that summer, while Hojlund might provide a cheaper, younger alternative to Kane, who has been valued at approximately £100 million.
Of course, as Flowers stated, the Tottenham Hotspur talisman might still be bought with the Dane, but in any case, the 6 foot 1 speedster could be United’s next Solskjaer.