£40m Manchester United transfer target is ‘best young player in Serie A’

Add as preferred source on Google

Rasmus Hojlund is on Manchester United’s list of potential transfer targets after an impressive season for Atalanta.

Atalanta welcomed Rasmus Hojlund back onto the scoresheet at the weekend, and it might not be long until they are waving him goodbye.

The Times reports Hojlund is a £40 million transfer target for United, who see the Denmark international as a player who can develop into a superstar.

While Hojlund presents more of a ‘project’ than a ready-built star like Harry Kane, this is baked into the much cheaper price he would cost.

• READ MORE: Manchester United transfer history 2013 to present day

Rasmus Hojlund ‘best young player in Serie A’

Hojlund’s potential is backed up by his numbers for the season. Again, while a long way to go to match Harry Kane’s 28 league goals in the Premier League, everything needs to be viewed in context.

Calcio Atalanta reports Rasmus Hojlund is the only player aged 20 or under to reach 10 goal contributions in Serie A this season.

He has eight goals and two assists in the league. Hojlund also scored one in the Coppa Italia, and four for Austrian side Sturm Graz early in the campaign.

Add in five international goals too, and Hojlund’s season goal tally for club and country stands at a healthy 18 goals plus two assists.

In a wider context, Hojlund is one of only five young players to surpass 10 league goal contributions in Europe’s top leagues, along with Bundesliga trio Youssouffa Moukoko, Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham, Montpellier’s Elye Wahi.

Numbers back up Hojlund ability

Data from FBRef shows Hojlund ranks fourth in Serie A for shots on target per 90 minutes, behind only Victor Osimhen, Edin Dzeko and Arkadiusz Milik.

BBC Sport report Hojlund’s shot accuracy ranks at 63 per cent, one of the best in the league and above Osimhen (51 per cent).

He also ranks inside the top 10 for ‘progressive passes received’, showing his ability to find space in the final third.

Hojlund is only scratching the surface of his potential, and while there is no guarantee he will go onto become a superstar, it’s easy to see why Manchester United believe he might.