Erik ten Hag has his striker after Manchester United have agreed to a deal to signal Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for €70 million which may also embrace add-ons, according to CBS Sports insider Fabrizio Romano. It is fairly the addition to the Crimson Devils because the 20-year-old Danish phenom could have an opportunity to develop and lead the United assault after a breakout season in Serie A noticed him rating 9 objectives and help two extra.
Whereas the aim numbers could seem low, that is the place Hojlund’s age needs to be taken under consideration as he can lead the road for years which can also be why he has agreed to a 5 12 months deal for the membership. Striker has been a problematic place for the Crimson Devils because of Anthony Martial’s damage woes and Marcus Rashford preferring to return in from the left facet which referred to as for an addition particularly with Champions League soccer looming.
The place issues get difficult is that Ten Hag should stability what Hojlund can do for Manchester United now in opposition to hat he can do in a 12 months or two or 5. The Premier League can swallow up proficient younger gamers as a result of expectations on them are so excessive out of the gate and Hojlund has rather a lot to work on in his recreation earlier than he can develop into the group’s focus or major attacking possibility.
Having Rashford to ease stress together with Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, and Bruno Fernandes to play him into good locations will assist however that is fairly a step for Hojlund. He was in a position to make the bounce from the Austrian Bundesliga with Strum Gratz to Serie A however he’ll should be extra medical to maintain up within the Premier League.
What’s not unsure are Hojlund’s bodily instruments. Standing 6’3″, Hojlund will be capable of develop a bodily presence however not being a excessive quantity shooter, he averaged simply 2.65 photographs per 90 minutes final season with a group that assaults as a lot as Atalanta, is one thing that might want to enhance as he grows in confidence with the Crimson Devils. The early days of this transfer can be essential. The record of younger gamers which have moved to United and struggled will not be brief, with their present winger Jadon Sancho serving as a first-rate instance.
United have additionally been linked to Harry Kane this summer season, and whereas in some methods Hojlund has an identical profile, sporting an throughout recreation mixed with bodily measurement and energy, his rawness signifies that he’ll inevitably come up wanting in that comparability, at the least for a few years. With persistence, nevertheless, in a go heavy United assault, Hojlund has the potential to take issues to a brand new degree which he’ll must do to justify the excessive charge. Nonetheless, if he can harness these bodily traits and add extra taking pictures and objectives to his recreation whereas he continues to blow by defenders within the Premier League he’ll be price it.
A extra bodily league than most, gamers in England can, and can, shut down on Hojlund rapidly in England giving him much less time to decide. However, if Ten Hag and the group can help him with making the best ones, not solely will United’s place as a top-four facet be secured, however it should carry them nearer to competing with their cross city rivals Manchester Metropolis for the title as properly.
