'Eddie Nketiah would be an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund'

Stuart Telford

• 29 Oct 2023 09:52 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United spent too much on Rasmus Hojlund if Arsenal man Eddie Nketiah's form is anything to go by, according to Tim Sherwood.

Nketiah scored a hat-trick for Arsenal as they thrashed Sheffield United 5-0 on Saturday to take his season tally to five goals in 10 Premier League games, eight of which have been starts.

The feeling persists that the academy graduate would be second choice if it weren't for continual injuries to Gabriel Jesus, but Sherwood thinks that Nketiah doesn't get the credit he deserves.

READ: Arsenal 'can't win league without another striker'

"I feel sorry for Eddie because people [are] always, even Arsenal fans, always asking questions about him and look at what he can't do," he told Sky Sports. "I like to look at what they can do. He can play in a lot of teams. A lot of big teams.

Sherwood: 'he's an upgrade on Hojlund'

"You're telling me this boy couldn't play for Man Utd at the moment, instead of Hojlund? He's an upgrade on Hojlund. They spent an awful lot of money on him. For me, [Nketiah]'s top drawer. I think he warrants playing for Arsenal at the top of the Premier League."

United paid Atalanta €75 million for Hojlund's services in August, although the young Dane is yet to open his Premier League account six games in, he does have three from three in the Champions League.

READ: Hojlund best, Onana worst: Ranking Man Utd’s summer signings so far

Arsenal continue to be linked with a new No.9, meanwhile, with Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen reportedly at the top of the Gunners' shopping list.

Nketiah's highest ETV so far was €33.6m (£29.3m) per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, and they could make a significant profit on him should they decide to cash in on the arrival of a potential replacement.

Arsenal got €30m from Monaco for Folarin Balogun - another former Hale End striker - this summer.