Rasmus Højlund has attracted attention from “all the top clubs” in Italy as Manchester United consider selling the Danish striker.
Manchester United started the transfer window strong, quickly signing Matheus Cunha from Wolves, but have failed to capitalise on this momentum. Ruben Amorim is in need of new attackers as a number of the club’s current forwards look set to depart.
The club have put in several bids for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but the deal has started to stagnate as the two parties have disagreed on the transfer structure.
Jadon Sancho appears likely to move to Juventus, with the club being the leading club in the pursuit of his signature. If Sancho does move, this could help fund Mbeumo and other incomings.
Another player attracting interest and who could help fund new transfers is out-of-form striker Rasmus Højlund. The 22-year-old only managed 12 goal involvements in 52 appearances last season, but is still attracting primary interest internationally.
Højlund is in high demand
While Højlund’s stock in the Premier League is at its lowest point since his arrival, he remains a highly prized player in Italy. Danish outlet Tipsbladet from Højlund’s home nation of Denmark have spoken to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio about the striker’s future.
Di Marzio revealed that Italy is currently abuzz with interest in Højlund, with several clubs considering a move. In recent weeks, the strongest option for Højlund has been Inter Milan, who see him as a replacement for Mehdi Taremi, but that deal has been described as “dead” for the immediate future.
However, Inter’s inter-stadium rival, AC Milan, is one of the new teams that have emerged as suitors for Hojlund. AC Milan are hoping Højlund can help them improve upon last season’s disappointing 8th-place finish, but they are prioritising the completion of other deals first.
Atalanta brought Højlund to Serie A from the Austrian side Sturm Graz in 2022, and despite only being at the club for a season, he left a lasting impact on the figures at the club.
While Atalanta could come back in for Højlund, a bid from his former manager’s new club is even more likely: “Roma will probably come on board because [Gian Piero] Gasperini really likes him, but it can only succeed as a loan deal.”
While United will want to sort out their outgoings as swiftly as possible to fund new incoming players, Di Marzio has suggested that the Højlund transfer could be one that heats up at the back end of the transfer window, as “all the top clubs in Italy” are interested.
Højlund wants to stay at United this summer
The Højlund situation is a precarious one for United as keeping, loaning or selling him comes with significant risks. United need to sign a striker, even if Højlund stays, so if he does depart, they will likely need to bring in two striking options.
While the club has missed out on a number of high-profile options up front, they still have a chance to sign strikers like Ollie Watkins and Moise Kean. If Højlund goes, one of these two won’t be enough, and they may have to sign one of the free-agent strikers they have been exploring as well.
The benefit of selling Hojlund is that they can use the money to help buy his replacement. Unfortunately, several of the clubs Di Marzio mentioned are interested in loaning Højlund. This leaves United shorthanded with no guarantee of any future sale, so a loan move would be the worst outcome for the club in terms of Hojlund this window.
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As exclusively revealed by UtdDistrict in June, the Danish forward wants to stay. If United keep Højlund, they could sign one striker and head into next season fairly well-prepared in attack.
Hojlunds form may improve with new arrivals, Cunha and Mbeumo supplying him chances, but there is no guarantee. The risk of keeping Højlund is that if his form does not improve, then he is likely to lose his current suitors, and the club will likely struggle to move him on.
Regardless of what United do, it will be a gamble. The safest bet for United would be to try to keep Højlund and bring in another striker, with the hope that the new player supports him and his form improves. This, however, potentially closes the door on these Italian suitors.
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