Arsenal to RIVAL Man Utd for Rasmus Hojlund alternative

Cameron Smith

• 9 Jul 2023 09:33 BST
• 4 min read

Arsenal are reportedly ready to rival Manchester United for the signing of Porto and Iran veteran Mehdi Taremi as Mikel Arteta applies the finishing touches to his 2023/24 squad.

The Gunners have already signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea for €70 million, while Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice are expected to officially complete their respective transfers to the Emirates Stadium in the coming days.

However, Arteta isn’t ready to stop his summer spending spree just yet, according to reports from Portugal.

READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

O Jogo have reported that Taremi is being monitored by Arsenal, with Man Utd also said to be keeping a keen eye on the Iran international as an option if they fail to agree a fee with Atalanta for Rasmus Hojlund.

FootballTransfers exclusively reported that United have agreed personal terms with Hojlund, but a deal has not yet been struck with his current club Atalanta. It’s our understanding that if negotiations drag on, Hojlund will make a transfer request to push a move through.

The Danish striker recently joined Amsterdam-based agency SEG, whose clients include Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag. We understand that the firm’s top brass, including CEO Kees Vos, and agent Kees Ploegsma, who helped broker Memphis Depay’s move to Man Utd in 2015 from PSV Eindhoven, are heading the move for the youngster.

READ MORE: Andre Onana's Man Utd wage revealed

Hojlund made the switch of the agency with the ambition of making a Premier League move and the SEG's relationship with Ten Hag, and therefore Man Utd, will provide the club leverage in securing the services of Hojlund.

Sources in Italy inform us that Atalanta have stuck a €70m price-tag on Hojlund and the club would rather make a sale in 2024, when it’s thought that he would have a higher value. The clubs still remain apart in valuation, too.

Mason Greenwood has been touted as a possible makeweight in the deal according to the Daily Mail and the Mirror, with a loan deal to Atalanta being discussed.

Taremi to the Premier League?

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, both Arsenal and Man Utd are keeping tabs on Taremi, and with his contract at Porto set to expire in 2024, the club may be open to offloading him this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next year.

It does seem, however, that Arsenal would need to offload one of Folarin Balogun or Eddie Nketiah if they are to move heavily for Taremi. The former has been linked with several moves across Europe, including to Chelsea - exclusively broken by FootballTransfers - and the likes of AC Milan and RB Leipzig.

As for Man Utd, the only recognised senior striker in their current squad is Anthony Martial, whose contract at Old Trafford is up next summer.