Former Manchester United star Jaap Stam has praised Rasmus Hojlund but does have concerns about throwing him into a key role.
United simply had to splash the cash on a new striker during the summer transfer window.
We know that Marcus Rashford is better out wide, that Anthony Martial just can’t be relied upon and that Wout Weghorst wasn’t the answer.
Many fans wanted Harry Kane but United went down a completely different route by signing Rasmus Hojlund instead.
The Dane was a relative unknown not that long ago, having quickly moved from Copenhagen to Sturm Graz and then Atalanta in 2022.
10 goals last season wasn’t a sensational record but United coughed up a huge £64million rising to £72million to bring Hojlund to Old Trafford.
Jaap Stam comments on Rasmus Hojlund
United fans are still learning about Hojlund, who has only made one appearance for the club having arrived with a small injury issue.
Former United defender Jaap Stam seems to have seen plenty of Hojlund having spoken to The Sunday Mirror (10/09, p72) about the 20-year-old striker.
Stam suggested that Hojlund is a ‘very good player’, believing that United have landed a real talent.
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However, Stam is concerned that asking him to produce as United’s main striker right now is a ‘big thing’, doubting that he can carry the attack on his own.
“He’s a very good player,” said Stam. “But it’s a big thing to ask him to produce straight away,” he added.
Maybe having an experienced, reliable striker to share the load with Hojlund would have been ideal but United must either hope that the new signing adjusts quickly or Martial contributes massively.
Hojlund hype already building at Manchester United
We have only seen Hojlund in a United shirt for less than half an hour having come on for Martial against Arsenal.
United fans were very encouraged though with Hojlund causing problems for the Arsenal back line with his pace and physicality.
There is clearly a player there in Hojlund and United fans already want to see him starting in place of Martial.
Hojlund is still building sharpness after his injury and Stam is probably right to highlight that expectation levels shouldn’t be too high on him.
Yet having produced a bright cameo against Arsenal, it’s difficult to slow down the push for Hojlund to start for United against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend.