Harry Redknapp claims Manchester United paid ‘crazy money’ for Rasmus Hojlund with the £64 million Premier League newbie still ‘miles away from being the finished article’ – but that was not what he was saying in August.
The Red Devils stumped up a colossal sum to bring the Denmark international to Old Trafford last summer, despite the fact that Rasmus Hojlund had just 32 appearances and nine goals in a major European league under his belt. Quite the show of faith.
But Manchester United bought Hojlund not for the player he is today, but for the player he may become.
Yes, £64 million – rising to £72 million – is an eye-watering sum for a forward very much unproven at the highest level. But if the former Atalanta, Copenhagen and Sturm Graz youngster can fulfil his vast potential in England’s north west, then we could one day be referring to Hojlund’s price-tag not so much as an expensive gamble but of an inspired piece of investment.
Rasmus Hojlund cost Manchester United a huge fee
“The lad they bought, it was crazy money,” Harry Redknapp, the one-time Southampton, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur manager, tells talkSPORT (9 January, 10am). “And he’s still miles away from being the finished article.
“What do you get for your money (these days)? It’s a gamble.”
If Hojlund was a big roll of the dice from United, then only time will tell if Ten Hag ends up cashing in his chips with a smile as wide as the Manchester canal on his face. While much has been made of his lack of goals at domestic level, Hojlund does have six in all competitions.
With five, he is joint-top of the Champions League goalscoring charts too, alongside Antonio Griezmann, Alvaro Morata and Erling Haaland, and ahead of Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Lois Openda. Some company.
Redknapp U-turn
It is noteworthy, that these comments are very different from the words Harry Redknapp uttered at the start of the Premier League season.
He told The Sun: “Rasmus Hojlund might not have been their first choice for a new striker at the start of the summer but he looks a great prospect. As good a season Marcus Rashford had last time, United have been after a goalscoring centre-forward for ages. This lad could be the answer.”
He’s allowed to change his mind, but that is a very sharp U-turn on a player after just a few months in English football.
Striker has Casemiro’s backing
“At the end of the day, he’s just a kid,” Hojlund’s vastly-experienced Red Devils team-mate Casemiro tells the Man United website. “So we shouldn’t be putting a lot of pressure on him.
“A lot of people think that he should be coming in and scoring 30-odd goals right away. He’s still young and this is his first season in the Premier League.
“He’s definitely playing better in every game and he’s working really hard. Rasmus is a dedicated lad and he’s keen to kick on.
“He’ll be a great player for this club and, with the ambitions he has, he could define an era at Manchester United.”
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