Who is Manchester United transfer target Rasmus Højlund?

Manchester United are all set to lock their horns with Arsenal to sign the Atalanta forward, Rasmus Højlund.

It is a well-known fact that the Old Trafford outfit is looking secure the services of a striker. The Premier League giants are just managing without a striker, but Erik ten Hag will sign a striker before the start of the 2022/23 season. Amidst these rumors, Manchester United are linked with Rasmus Hojlund from Italy.

"Juventus, AC Milan, Real Madrid og Napoli er allerede velbeskrevne beundrere af den blonde bomber. Ifølge Tipsbladet oplysninger lurer kvartetten også på 20-årige Rasmus Højlund.Men listen har fået endnu et navn i Manchester United, som ifølge Tipsbladets oplysninger er meget interesseret i angriberen, som har scoret fem Serie A-mål siden årsskiftet.(Via: Tipdsbladet)"

According to the reports, the Atalanta forward has interests from Juventus, AC Milan and Los Blancos. The report also stated that Manchester United are far away from signing the player but have a “strong interest” in him.

Rasmus Højlund in 2022/23

The 20-year-old striker started his 2022/23 season with the Austrian outfit, Strum Graz. In the five games, he had five G/A to his name. Considering the prolific form that he carried from the 2021/22 season, Atalanta snapped him up in a deal worth €17.2 million. Atalanta shelled four times the value of the player to secure his signature.

With Atalanta, the player has six goals in 19 Serie A games. In two games that he played for Atalanta in Coppa Italia, he has a goal to his name.

Rasmus Højlund: Strengths and Weakness

Rasmus Højlund has two major weaknesses. The player has a poor defensive contribution alongside holding the ball. He has won only 35.8% of aerial duels in the Italian top flight. He accounts for 0.09 tackles per 90.

However, the 20-year-old compensates for his deficiencies with his dribbling and finishing skills. He averages 0.7 successful dribbles per 90 and always poses a counter-attacking threat with his electric pace. Rasmus Højlund is a great carrier of the ball as he does not give into tackles easily. He accounts for 1.64 progressive carries per 90.

(Stats via fbref)

Why should Rasmus Højlund be a target for Manchester United?

Manchester United have signed Wout Weghorst on loan to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. Though he has not scored goals like how Erik ten Hag wanted, he has not been bad. However, for a club of stature like Manchester United, they need a striker who can bag goals left, right and center.

On the other hand, Anthony Martial has struggled with injuries and it has irked Erik ten Hag. With Marcus Rashford operating as a center-forward, the club has set its sights on Victor Osimhen. However, Victor Osimhen won’t come cheap. According to reports, Napoli are looking for a fee closer to €150 million to sell Victor Osimhen. With dark clouds hovering over the sale of Manchester United, signing Osimhen can be a distant dream.

Moreover, Red Devils are not sure about Mason Greenwood’s situation. The prosecutors have dropped the case as there was “no longer realistic prospect of conviction”. With the club still running its internal inquiry, it might take longer than expected to arrive at a conclusion.

In critical times, with Erik ten Hag wanting a striker, Rasmus Højlund can be a real deal with the quality that he possesses. Even if Manchester United pays twice his value, it will be worth punting on the Danish forward.

Should Manchester United sign Rasmus Højlund for the future? Have your say below!