THE comparisons between Rasmus Hojlund and Erling Haaland are unavoidable. Both players boast a physical nature beyond their years and are renowned for their finishing instincts inside the penalty box. Hojlund, like Haaland, has pace to burn and often looks for the quickest route to goal. Even their names are similar.
Manchester United are expected to complete the signing of Hojlund from Atalanta before the start of the season with a transfer fee of £72m agree with the Serie A club over the weekend. This fee illustrates just how highly rated the 20-year-old is, and how desperate Erik Ten Hag is for a new number nine in his squad. Hojlund’s signing is a gamble.
Anyone who watched Hojlund for Atalanta last season will have seen his potential. The young striker scored nine Serie A goals and caught the eye with six goals in just four international appearances for Denmark. A hat trick in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland in March showcased his full skill set.
That skill set made Hojlund a top target for Erik Ten Hag who doesn’t just need a new number nine to convert goal-scoring opportunities, but someone to lead the high press from the front. Cristiano Ronaldo was incapable of doing this, and was moved on as a consequence. Hojlund, however, is much more mobile and will satisfy Ten Hag’s demands.
He is, however, still a player learning his trade. Hojlund has played only one full season in a ‘Big Five’ league. He didn’t even reach double figures for goals in Serie A last term. Manchester United have paid a lot of money for player who has still to prove he can consistently deliver at the top level of the sport.
“He has very similar characteristics to Haaland,” explained Gian Piero Gasperini when asked about Hojlund’s quality. “He is so quick, he’s under 11 seconds over 100m and that’s not even trying very hard. Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day.”
Hojlund won’t be helped by the parallels drawn by many to Haaland – at least not initially. While the latter, who scored an incredible 52 goals in just 53 games for Manchester City last season, is the finished product, the former is raw. He might not be ready to lead the line for a club of United’s stature.
Ten Hag can’t wait for Hojlund to come good, though. He needs a world class striker to start next season and that could put the young Dane in a difficult position. In an ideal world, Manchester United would have an experienced centre forward to start most games and act as a mentor to Hojlund, but poor recruitment in past years means Ten Hag lacks the former.
Of course, there will be more to United’s attacking line than just Hojlund next season. Marcus Rashford struck 30 goals in all competitions last term and has only just signed a new long-term contract to keep him at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future. New captain Bruno Fernandes also hit double figures in all competitions.
Alejandro Garnacho will be expected to take another step forward in his development this season while Antony could be more consistent with a full Premier League campaign under his belt. Ten Hag is getting closer to boasting a variety of attacking options he can trust, but the right centre forward could lift the level of the entire team.
United remain a work-in-progress, but the signing of Hojlund is a symbolic one. The expected addition of a new centre forward has edged the Old Trafford club closer to the completion of Ten Hag’s rebuild. Whether or not Hojlund lives up to his billing as a Haaland clone, he could be the player Manchester United desperately need.
