Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund may be set for a return to Atalanta in a swap deal worth £50 million that could see a Serie A star come the other way.
Manchester United’s poor season has seen two managers struggle to get the best out of multi-million pound footballers, with one issue repeating itself under both coaches.
In the Premier League, Erik ten Hag’s United side only netted eight goals in nine games. Under Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils scored 27 goals in 22 games, an improvement, but still not good enough.
Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee have both struggled when playing as the lone striker, with the majority of goals coming from Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
United look set to bring in a striker in the summer, with links to Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen in recent weeks.
Another option appears to have come to fruition, potentially coming the other way in a £50 million swap deal with Højlund.
Atalanta interested in Højlund swap deal
As per reports from The Sun, Atalanta are interested in a swap deal that would see Højlund return to the Italian team, with Ademola Lookman set to go the other way.
Lookman, formerly of Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, is reportedly looking to return to the Premier League and he is open to a move to United.
However, the Nigerian is not an out-and-out centre forward, playing just seven appearances for Atalanta as a striker. Most of Lookman’s minutes come as a second striker, playing just behind the No. 9, as per Transfermarkt.
Hojlund’s future seems to be away from Old Trafford, with more and more reports suggesting that United will look to move on the Denmark international in the summer.
United should stay clear of Lookman
While he has shown his quality in recent seasons in Italy and on international duty for Nigeria, Lookman is not a player that United should be looking to bring in this summer.
He would play his best football as the left attacking midfielder in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. Still, with the signing of Matheus Cunha appearing more likely, United do not need to sign another player for the two No. 10 positions.
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are already competing for the left side of United’s front three, with Fernandes and Mason Mount fighting for the other spot, excluding injured players like Amad and Zirkzee.
Amad looks set to return before United’s Europa League semi-final clash with Athletic Bilbao, with Fabrizio Romano reporting he will be back in first-team training very soon.
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