Manchester United target Rasmus Hojlund scored again in a big Atalanta victory as his manager talked him up.
Serie A side Atalanta have kicked off their pre-season with a very low-key and high scoring couple of warm up games.
Fresh from beating a non-league side 10-1 at the weekend, Atalanta followed this up with a 11-0 win over Rapprentativo Val Seriana.
Rasmus Hojlund took only 12 minutes to find the scoresheet, following up Davide Zappacosta’s opener to make it 2-0, with Atalanta going on to add nine more without reply.
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Gasperini on Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund is a priority transfer target for Manchester United, with the Danish striker viewed as a solution for the club’s long-standing striker problem.
Italian outlet TMW yesterday reported Manchester United were set to lodge a bid of around £60 million for the 20-year-old forward.
Speaking to reports after Atalanta’s big workout win, manager Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Hojlund’s future.
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He told Sky Italia: “Hojlund is among the very best emerging players in Europe”.
He went on to add, “The transfer market is unpredictable, I don’t know the value of the player, he can be worth even 100 million.”
Atalanta are under no pressure to sell, financially, nor due to his contract situation, however, Hojlund is keen on a move.
Fabrizio Romano reports Hojlund has ‘100 per cent agreed’ personal terms for a switch to Manchester United.
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi told TMW this week, “The goal is to strengthen the team. In the past we have also done this through sales, everyone must be happy to be there.”
Romano reports Atalanta have been looking at replacement options for Hojlund since June.
Andy Cole on striker situation
Manchester United legend Andy Cole has backed Manchester United to find a long term solution up front after years of quick fixes.
He told the Telegraph: “My position, I moved on, Ruud van Nistelrooy was there and went on for many years.
“But we’re buying older centre-forwards for a hell of a lot of money and then find ourselves in the same position a couple of years later. This is Manchester United – we’re better than that.”
A move for Hojlund would be a step in the right direction, a young player who can improve and play a role over the next five to 10 years if successful. A costly investment now could prove to be a bargain.