Manchester United want to find a top class striker and have hopes the club’s academy may be able to provide one.
2023 summer signing Rasmus Hojlund can’t do it all on his own. Manchester United fans fondly recall the incredible team of 1998/99 where Sir Alex Ferguson‘s team had four top class centre-forwards.
A report this week via The Standard claimed Manchester united are prioritising signing a striker this summer, looking for a ‘Harry Kane level talent’.
So how exactly do United acquire a Kane level talent without paying a vastly over-priced fee? It might be an impossible task.
One ideal solution for United would be to ‘grow your own’, and there are high hopes for young talent Joe Hugill.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2024, ins, outs, loan moves
Joe Hugill looks to emulate Harry Kane
Joe Hugill signed a new contract last week before clinching a loan deal to League One side Burton Albion.
His loan spell got off to the perfect start when he scored just three minutes after coming off the bench, against Derby County.
It’s just the start, but it was a positive start for Hugill, as he looks to build up experience and return to Manchester United a better and hungrier player.
All of this is especially relevant to Harry Kane, because the England international striker cut his teeth in the Football League. At a similar age, he was not too much further forward than Hugill was.
Kane had four different loan spells, starting out as Hugill did, in League One, with Leyton Orient for half a season. He scored five goals.
He later had loans in the Championship with Millwall and Leicester City, as well as a stint in the top flight with Norwich where he played only three times.
He eventually got his Premier League debut in 2014 after changes in management, and seized his chance. He has not looked back, netting 213 top flight goals.
Hugill was actually a target for Tottenham before Manchester United won the race for his signature in 2020, snapping him up from Sunderland.
Hugill a natural goalscorer
He has gone onto score 55 goals for the club’s academy teams, and also scored on a work experience loan for non-league Altrincham last season
The youngster also scored in pre-season for the first team against Leeds, also getting minutes against Borussia Dortmund.
The 20-year-old is growing into his gangly frame and looks ready to make the jump from academy games to men’s football. His opening strike for Burton was a clinical strike which showed a real finisher’s instinct, going one on one with the goalkeeper and slotting it into the bottom corner with confidence.
There is a long way for Hugill to go. He needs to be mentally strong, and have a real drive to succeed, like Kane did. There is lots of work left for him to do.
United do believe in him, and if he can continue to develop, regardless of who is bought in the summer, there is no reason why Hugill can’t force his way into the mix and earn an opportunity.
As he showed this week, all he needs is a few minutes to make an impact.
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