New Haaland ‘wants to join Man Utd’

Carlo Garganese

• 4 Jul 2023 07:35 BST
• 3 min read

Atalanta wonderkid Rasmus Hojlund is “super keen” to join Manchester United this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian transfer journalist reports that Hojlund is high on United’s summer shortlist.

He rejected reports that United have bid €35 million for Hojlund, explaining that it would take a bid of almost double that for Atalanta to consider selling.

PROFILE: Who is Rasmus Hojlund?

But Hojlund himself has made it clear that he wants to join the Premier League side.

United have made the signing of a top-class striker their main priority for the summer transfer window.

Their two top targets have been Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, but United are aware that both players will cost three-figure sums that they are not prepared to pay.

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

As a result they have stepped up their interest in Hojlund, who has been labelled as the ‘new Erling Haaland’.

Hojlund explosion in 2023

Hojlund has exploded in 2023 as one of the most exciting young talents in European football.

He has scored 15 goals in the calendar year for club and country, having only turned 20 in February.

Just like Haaland, he stands at 6ft 4in and regularly bullies defenders physically, holding up the ball with his back to play expertly. And just like Haaland, he boasts a lovely left foot but also has the ability to dribble and run with the ball.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini compared Hojlund to Gasperini himself a few months ago.

“Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also technical quality that is just remarkable,” Gasperini said.

“He still has so much margin for improvement, too.

“He has very similar characteristics to Haaland, not just his face.

“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 and can move his legs very fast. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day.”