Atalanta will likely reject a €60m (£51.4m) offer from Manchester United for Rasmus Hojlund, according to journalist Alfredo Pedulla.
The Italian reporter claims the Red Devils are ready to make their first bid for the Danish international but Atalanta are still demanding €70m (£60m) plus bonuses:
— Alfredo Pedullà (@AlfredoPedulla) June 14, 2023
Hojlund is now believed to be the Red Devils’ number-one striker target after being priced out of a move for the likes of Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
United can’t afford £100m+ signings this summer
With Spurs adamant that they won’t sell Kane, and Osimhen expected to cost as much as €150m (£128.5m), the focus has turned towards strikers who will cost below the £100m mark.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani has been suggested as a possible option, while a move for Juventus’s Dusan Vlahovic can’t be ruled out either, with both set to cost around €80m (£69m).
Hojlund is the cheapest of the lot, though, and he is widely regarded as having a big future in the game.
His Manager rates him very highly
Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperni has been full of praise for the 20-year-old. After the forward scored the winner in the 2-1 win over Bologna in January, Gasperini said:
“He has extraordinary margins [for improvement], the evolution he’s had in recent months… He had to get into matches right away, he’s nineteen.”
Hojlund scored 16 goals in all competitions last season, and there is a feeling that he could explode in front of goal if he remains at Atalanta for another season.
However, United seem keen to bring him in now, so he can continue his development under the guidance of Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Other teams, including Chelsea, have been linked with Hojlund but, considering the player is a Red Devils fan, he won’t need much persuading to come. It is now up to the two clubs to agree a fee.
