Rasmus Højlund has been linked with a move to one of Manchester United’s Premier League rivals amid speculation about his potential departure from the football club.
Manchester United’s striking options were very bare last summer, particularly after the injury to Joshua Zirkzee. Rasmus Højlund was left to lead the line by himself, which can be a particularly difficult prospect for someone of such a young age.
Chido Obi is expected to push for a starting spot a bit more aggressively this season. Zirkzee is firmly expected to remain at the club, so the door has opened for Hojlund to leave in the coming weeks.
Juventus and Inter Milan are two clubs interested in signing Hojlund. No formal bids have taken place as of yet, but there is a belief that United will allow the player to leave the club he supported as a boy if the correct bid comes in.
Despite this, Højlund has been urged to turn down a move to Serie A and instead join a Premier League rival of Manchester United this summer.
Højlund urged to join Aston Villa
Højlund has been urged to join Aston Villa this summer instead of pursuing a move to Inter Milan or Juventus. Stan Collymore, who played for Liverpool in the past, has been speaking about the situation and feels a move to Villa would benefit Højlund.
Speaking to CaughtOffside, Collymore had this to say: “If you’re looking at a deal whereby you’re looking at the transfer fee plus wages. Aston Villa could afford the transfer fee and wages. I mean, there’s talk of £43 million for Højlund, but I don’t think anybody’s paying that.
“I really like him as a striker; I think he’s got the basic attributes. But he went to Manchester United, and it basically completely shattered his confidence. In Aston Villa’s financial position, £25 million plus add-ons and a wage that would not be anywhere near breaking their high wage turnover would be favourable.
“I think that if Ollie Watkins were to go, they could do a lot worse than have a look at Rasmus Hojlund. He should have gone to someone like Aston Villa first, scored you 25 goals and then gone to Manchester United 2/3 years down the line.”
Højlund has yet to be subject to a formal bid from any club, with his future uncertain, and there is still a chance he will remain at Old Trafford if United cannot find a replacement. Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen are two strikers who have been heavily linked.
United should keep Højlund this summer
With no strikers currently seeming open to joining United, keeping Hojlund to play beside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo could provide a very smart alternative. Mbeumo is likely to complete his signing in the coming days.
Hojlund has yet to play alongside two players who can consistently create for a striker during his career, and he may have that in the shape of Mbuemo and Cunha if he is to remain next season.
There is a lot more to come from Hojlund despite his clear struggles last season, and if he can regain his confidence in the early weeks of the season and get a full pre-season under Ruben Amorim, he could feel like a new signing.
An interesting couple of weeks for Rasmus Højlund, but no clear indications of what his future could look like yet.
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