Man Utd tipped to sign 'next Haaland' after missing out on the original

Stuart Telford

• 26 Mar 2023 08:42 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United are out in front in the race to sign Rasmus Hojlund - touted as the next Erling Haaland - from Atalanta, according to reports in Denmark.

Hojlund has impressed for Atalanta this season with seven goals and two assists from his 23 Serie A outings, only 14 of which have been starts.

A 6'3" striker with pace, Hojlund has inevitable drawn comparisons with Haaland, and excitement about his potential reached fever pitch last Thursday as he hit a hat-trick for Denmark in their 3-1 win over Finland in Euro 2024 qualifying.

READ: Who is Rasmus Hojlund? The Atalanta wonderkid followed by Real Madrid

Scouts from Arsenal and Newcastle were reportedly also in attendance in Copenhagen, but United have an advantage in his pursuit.

Man Utd's 'concrete interest'

"Manchester United have a concrete interest in bringing Hojlund to Old Trafford," report Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. "Hojlund is open to the transfer and has already flirted with the Red Devils."

United are in the market for a No.9 with Cristiano Ronaldo long gone, Wout Weghorst failing to impress in his stead, and 27-goal top scorer Marcus Rashford doing his best work from the left flank.

READ: Man Utd 'favourites' for player who is 'definitely' top of Ten Hag's transfer shortlist

They have been linked with Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Randal Kolo Muani, but Hojlund, valued at €19.5 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, might represent shrewder investment.

Hojlund also admitted to his United support in January.

"Now that you ask, I won't hide the fact that I'm a huge Manchester United fan," he told the same outlet. "So personally, it'd be one of the biggest things for me.

"Of course that doesn't mean that I'd turn down other big clubs if the offers come at some point."

United tried to sign Haaland when the Norwegian was at Red Bull Salzburg, with then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having previously worked with him at Molde.

He chose Dortmund instead, and now plies his trade across town with Manchester City, for whom he has plundered 42 goals in 37 games since his €60m arrival last summer.