Rio Ferdinand believes there are a number of Premier League widemen who could help to get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
It’s a funny one, the whole Rasmus Hojlund situation. No Premier League goals 12 games into his Manchester United career would usually equal an early death knell for many a centre-forward, but you won’t find many Red Devils supporters who are laying the blame at Hojlund’s door.
It was a familiar story against Bournemouth on Saturday. The £64 million Dane getting himself into some very promising positions, only for the service from Diogo Dalot and co to let him down. Think of Hojlund as a hungry customer at a restaurant waiting for the steak he’s ordered, only to see the waiter trip over his own feet and spill peppercorn sauce all over the floor.
Rasmus Hojlund’s Premier League drought goes on
“(Hojlund) needs service,” Ferdinand explains on his Vibe with Five podcast. “We’ve got wingers who either want to get a shot off (rather than cross).”
Given their tendency to cut inside rather than go by the byline, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho have failed to provide the sort of cut-backs and crosses Hojlund tends to convert with ease at international level.
Ironically, the player who looks best suited to Hojlund’s strengths is the banished Jadon Sancho.
Ferdinand, then, believes United need what he calls a ‘provider’. A more old-school wideman with a penchant for picking out a team-mate in the penalty area. One like Crystal Palcae’s Michael Olise or Everton duo Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison.
“If Man United had Olise, Jack Harrison, McNeil at Everton, Jacob Murphy at Newcastle – any one of those four wingers, I reckon he (Hojlund) would have five or six goals by now,” the 2008 Champions League winner adds.
“Why? Because they cross the ball. All four of those boys, their first thought is, get the ball, head down. Either beat the full-back and cross, or give me a yard and cross the ball. (West Ham’s Jarrod ) Bowen.
“These are guys who provide.”
Do Manchester United need a new winger?
Hojlund, it should not be forgotten, has scored five goals for Manchester United, the fastest ever player to hit that milestone in the Champions League for the Red Devils. Clearly, converting chances is not the issue.
Getting Hojlund chances is the problem Ten Hag must solve.
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