Manchester United Targets ‘Assassin’ Similar to Haaland
Rasmus Hojlund has become Manchester United’s latest pursuit as coach Erik ten Hag is highly impressed with the qualities of the young Danish forward, who bears a striking resemblance to Erling Haaland of Manchester City.
Manchester United is actively trying to secure a deal with Rasmus Hojlund, the 20-year-old striker currently playing for Serie A club Atalanta. There are numerous comparisons drawn between the tall, athletic, and fast-paced Danish player and Haaland. Even their names sound alike.
The comparisons between Rasmus Hojlund and Erling Haaland are inevitable as Manchester United considers him their top target and engages in negotiations to sign him from Atalanta for a reported fee of £86 million.
Although it might be premature to call Hojlund “Haaland 2.0,” experts acknowledge that he possesses immense potential and can be seen as the super striker akin to Man City’s Haaland.
Originally signed by Atalanta for £15 million last summer, Hojlund has already showcased his talent by scoring 9 goals in 32 Serie A matches. Before that, Sturm Graz paid £1.5 million to acquire him, where he netted 9 goals in 18 Bundesliga matches in Austria. Prior to that, Hojlund played for Copenhagen, where he failed to score in 19 Danish Superliga matches, though he only started in two of them.
Hojlund’s rapid rise has positioned him as the striker Manchester United is pursuing, with superior attributes of speed and power to shine in the Premier League. One of his key strengths lies in his ability to explode in areas where he can strike simple yet effective goals, much like Haaland.
With wingers like Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and Antony providing support from behind, Hojlund can quickly boost his goal-scoring tally inside the box.
Similar to Haaland, Hojlund prefers not to drift wide and thrives when playing as a central striker. While Atalanta may adjust their tactical system from one match to another, Hojlund’s position remains unchanged as it’s deemed the best way for him to score goals.
Even in congested central areas, Hojlund exhibits remarkable ball control. He possesses nimble feet and a keen eye for goal, making his movements difficult to predict.
Coach Ten Hag is enthralled with Hojlund’s playing style, despite being left-footed, he’s equally comfortable using his right foot. Manchester United has recognized Hojlund’s potential, but they must reach an agreement with Atalanta to provide him a chance to test his luck in the Premier League and see if he can match Haaland’s early-season success.
In case of failure in signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta this summer, Manchester United is reportedly prepared to shift their focus to another target, Ajax’s forward, Mohammed Kudus. The Red Devils have already acquired goalkeeper Andre Onana for £43 million and Mason Mount for £55 million.
