Man United legend compares Rasmus Hojlund signing to ‘adjusting’ Darwin Nunez at Liverpool

Rasmus Hojlund will become Manchester United’s third signing of the summer after the club agreed a fee with Atalanta for the transfer of the Danish striker.

The centre-forward will come in and immediately plug the no.9 gap in Erik ten Hag’s side. During pre-season, Jadon Sancho has been deployed as a false-nine due to the lack of options.

At just 20-years-old, however, the move presents a risk of whether Hojlund can shoulder the burden of being United’s goalscoring striker. His nine-goal league tally in the Serie A is not the best, but he also only started 20 games across the campaign.

For an initial £64 million price tag, Christian Eriksen’s national teammate will be of of two recognised first-teak strikers at United – the other being Anthony Martial, who has missed out on every pre-season fixture so far with injury.

Yet, former United defender Rio Ferdinand has explained that the Dane’s skillset will be suited to playing in England. Although, he has suggested that there could be a bedding-in period similar to that of Darwin Nunez after his move to Liverpool last summer.

“The first thing you’ve got to look at is there’s huge potential,” said Ferdinand, as transcribed by The Mirror. “Anyone who has seen him play will see there are attributes there that you would like. He’s suited to the Premier League. I think the price tag is out of his hands.

“I look at it like Darwin Nunez from Liverpool. Last season was his adjusting season. He’s a young striker coming to the league, everything about him fits the Premier League perfectly, but it didn’t go as well as he would have liked.”

Nunez, 24, scored nine goals in the Premier League for United’s rivals last term. He regularly found himself in great scoring positions but was unable to convert on a consistent level.

Ferdinand is of the opinion that things will click for the Uruguayan forward next term and that a similar pathway could happen for Hojlund at Old Trafford.

“I think this season, we’ll see a different player for Liverpool… I wouldn’t be surprised if that (a slow debut campaign) happens with Hojlund, although I’d like him to have a better season than Nunez obviously. He may well do but it will take time to adjust.

“The quality is there but you’re always going to be paying big bucks – it’s Manchester United and English tax. That’s what happens.”