Rasmus Højlund could be set for a move to AC Milan, despite previous reports suggesting he wanted to stay at Manchester United and fight for his place in the side.
Rasmus Højlund’s time as a Manchester United player has not been easy, despite looking promising for several games during his two-year spell at Old Trafford. The managerial change from Erik ten Hag to Rúben Amorim doesn’t appear to have helped him.
The Dane has struggled to find the goal regularly as a United player, especially last season, as he scored just 10 goals in all competitions, despite making 52 appearances across the year.
With Benjamin Šeško’s transfer now confirmed, Højlund now looks set for a move away from Old Trafford because game time could be hard to come by if he has to compete with Slovenian and Joshua Zirkzee, with no European football.
AC Milan have been interested in the centre forward since his days at Atalanta, and now look set to make a serious move for Højlund after he was given no minutes in the final pre-season game against David de Gea’s Fiorentina.
What Højlund has said after official AC Milan offer
The Italian giants have submitted a loan offer for Højlund, with an option to buy him at the end of the season for approximately £34.5 million.
United are said to be happy with the conditions of the deal – loan with an option to buy – but want £43.1 million as a total package, including a loan fee.
Intermediaries believe a deal will be agreed upon sooner rather than later, with a likely compromise coming at a deal worth £38.8 million, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. Both sides want to finalise the deal quickly, so they can focus on the upcoming season.
AC Milan have guaranteed that they will cover Højlund’s full wages for the season, but the striker is said to be more concerned about assurances that he will join them permanently.
It’s noted that this is unlikely to be a significant stumbling block, and it will also be music to the ears of United, who will no doubt be hoping that a permanent sale to AC Milan will go through early next summer.
Højlund made it clear on the pre-season tour that he wanted to stay at United, but appears to be being forced out as he won’t play this season, and his move could help fund another transfer before the end of the window.
Obi could compete with Zirkzee this season
Chido Obi has excited much of the fanbase in his short cameos since his move from Arsenal last season, including in pre-season when he featured alongside first-team players.
With Højlund now set for a move away – at least for this season – Obi could be in line for more minutes in the senior side, even with no European football to compete in.
Zirkzee will likely be the backup option for Šeško, but Obi and United’s new No. 30 are much more similar in playstyle than Zirkzee and Šeško, as the Dutchman likes to drop off the defensive line, whereas Obi and the former RB Leipzig striker prefer to make runs in behind and force the defence back.
Therefore, if he is ready by the end of the season, Obi could be given more minutes and be considered as Šeško’s backup, with Zirkzee playing more as an attacking midfielder. However, Obi has begun the season with the under-21s and featured on Wednesday night against Tamworth.
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