Atalanta BC and Denmark national team striker Rasmus Hojlund successfully shifted the focus away from the reports linking him to Manchester United in the summer in his latest media appearance.
The 20-year-old striker is reported to be among the targets of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United as the Dutch manager prioritises the striker position. Hojlund is on the list with Premier League 200-club member Harry Kane, Napoli ace Victor Osimhen and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez according to several reports that have come out since the Red Devils’ market search for a striker became public.
Hojlund is the youngest on that list of three and many believe that he is a cheaper option for United, who are also in search of a midfielder and a goalkeeper to give healthy competition to David De Gea, who is under fire. The Atalanta striker, however, remained tight-lipped about the links when quizzed about them at the Denmark national team camp ahead of their UEFA Euro Championships 2024 qualifiers games.
Before he joined up with Denmark, the player changed representatives. When asked if the change of agents was in lieu of a possible United move, he replied, “It’s a trial period and that’s all I can say.”
Then he commented on the links, noting how flattering it is for him, who is only in the early years of his senior career, to be linked to a ‘huge club’ like Manchester United. “It is a huge club, so I must have done something right if it’s rumoured they want me. We have to see what happens,” he said.
“From what we all hear, I imagine a lot could happen to quite a few strikers this summer, as many clubs are looking for a Number 9. Something will definitely happen there, and then we’ll have to wait and see if I am included in it.
“I am very happy to be with Atalanta and we have qualified for Europe, so now we have to wait and see.”
Further reports indicate that ten Hag wants two strikers: one young forward and one experienced one as he hopes to build a squad that can challenge Manchester City for the treble and possibly win the quadruple next season.
They were close to that achievement but fell short in the FA Cup final against City and in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals against Sevilla. They are back in the UEFA Champions League and ten Hag, who made the 2019 semi-final, will be hoping to do one better than that performance with AFC Ajax Amsterdam with an all-new squad in United next season.
