Manchester United interested in Euro qualifiers top scorer Rasmus Hojlund
The ‘new Haaland’ impressed with five goals in two games for Denmark during the international break.
Young Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund only made his international debut last September but he now leads the goalscoring charts in the European Championship qualifiers.
The 20-year-old scored a hat trick in his first international start against Finland last week and followed that up with a brace against Kazakhstan. He leads Cristiano Ronaldo and Scott McTominay, who are both on four goals.
Hojlund signed for Serie A side Atalanta last summer in a fee thought to be worth around €17 million ($20m). He has impressed in Italy with eight goals in 25 appearances and is now on the radar for a number of top European clubs.
Manchester United reportedly interested in ‘Danish Haaland’
It was probably inevitable that the next exciting Scandinavian forward would be christened the ‘new Haaland’ and at this stage it looks like Hojlund has been given that moniker.
There are a number of top clubs expected to be in the market for a centre forward this summer, including Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. However the Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester United are particularly keen on the young Dane.
Manchester United are currently without an elite level striker who can satisfy coach Erik ten Haag’s requirements of speed, strength and back-to-goal capabilities. Dutch forward Wout Weghorst was brought in on a short-term deal in January, but neither he nor any of United’s other attacking options quite fit the bill for Ten Haag.
Hojlund is 6ft3 and known for intelligent movement that helps make space for those around him. He’s comfortable holding the ball up for midfielders and wingers to play off him, but also has the pace to threaten defences in behind.
Beyond all his in-game qualities, Hojlund has one more characteristic that the Old Trafford faithful can appreciate: he supports Manchester United.
“Now that you ask, I will not hide the fact that I am a huge Manchester United fan,” Hojlund said in an interview earlier this year.
“So personally, it would be one of the biggest things for me, but of course that doesn’t mean that I would turn down other big clubs if the offers come at some point.”