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Who will lead Manchester United’s assault subsequent season stays a thriller.
Hyperlinks to high strikers like Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko persist, but Rasmus Hojlund might nonetheless keep put.
Heading into the summer time window, the expectation was that Hojlund could be moved on, his exit paving the way in which for a marquee striker signing.
Names like Viktor Gyokeres, Hugo Ekitike, and Liam Delap had been touted as main upgrades on the Dane.
However none arrived. As a substitute, they joined rival golf equipment.
INEOS’ striker chase has shifted from hopeful to irritating.
Whereas first rate choices stay in the marketplace, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not United will decide to a brand new striker signing and that indecision is a part of why the membership stays undecided about Hojlund.
Ideally, he would have been offered. His 4 league objectives final season recommend he isn’t the person to steer United’s line, and a recent begin might need served him effectively.
Hojlund in demand
Curiously, Caught Offside stories that United wouldn’t have struggled to money in on the striker this summer time.
They describe the 22-year-old as one of the sought-after younger forwards in Europe:
“Bayer Leverkusen, led by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, are among the many golf equipment pushing hardest to safe Hojlund’s signature,” the outlet claims.
“They’re not alone of their admiration. AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt have all been conserving tabs on Højlund, because the race to signal the Denmark worldwide turns into one of the hotly-contested tales of the switch window.”
Whereas such curiosity must be music to INEOS’ ears, there’s a concern that many of those golf equipment is not going to match their stage of curiosity with agency presents.
Hojlund: staying or leaving
United, eager to not seem determined, and maybe toying with the concept of conserving Hojlund, are holding agency.
As Caught Offside be aware:
“Man United are understood to be open to letting Hojlund go — however solely on their phrases (a everlasting exit for the suitable worth).
“United [are] holding agency on their valuation and construction calls for, [so] negotiations are proving to be a significant stumbling block.
“United should handle rising curiosity whereas deciding whether or not to money in on Hojlund or give him extra time to develop in England.”
That robust stance noticed Inter Milan, as soon as frontrunners within the Hojlund race, have their mortgage proposal swiftly rejected.
They didn’t return with a greater supply; as a substitute, they pivoted to a switch different.
With striker hyperlinks to Watkins and Sesko (and even Nicolas Jackson) nonetheless swirling, and curiosity in Hojlund rising, it will likely be fascinating to see if United soften their stance and compromise on the phrases of his exit.
Ultimately, it’s Hojlund’s destiny that ought to form Amorim’s attacking plans subsequent season.
Featured picture Alex Livesey by way of Getty Photos
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