Manchester United are focused on signing a goalkeeper and next, attention will turn towards a striker.
While optimistic whispers overHarry Kanepersist, the most realistic Manchester United striker signing this summer appears to be Atalanta’sRasmus Hojlund.
The Athleticɾєρօɾτ Manchester United have held talks with Atalanta over a move for the Denmark international and have identified the 20-year-old as a top target.
The two clubs have not yet found an agreement in price, with Atalanta keen on cash, rather than any player plus money swap offers.
Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
Hojlund scores in 10-1 win
Rasmus Hojlund returned to pre-season training at Atalanta last week and he has already made an appearance, featuring in a friєɴԀly on Sunday.
Hojlund scored in a 10-1 victory for Atalanta against non-league side Clusone, scoring the goal which put his side 8-0 up.
It was a one-sided result which paled in significance to another friєɴԀly result played in Italy at the weekєɴԀ, with Sassuolo winning their match 22-0.
While it would have made greater headlines if Hojlund had bagged three or four goals in Atalanta’s win, this was a game where the goals were spread around with nine different scorers, and he will simply have been glad to make a scoring return.
Atalanta have another pre-season game against a non-league side this Wednesday, while Manchester United take on Lyon.
By then Andre Onana’s transfer may have been secured by Manchester United, and the club’s focus will turn towards signing a striker.
Gasperini on Hojlund
Manchester United would like to have a Ԁєɑł for a striker done by the start of the season, while iԀєɑłly if Atalanta cash in, they want to allow time to sign a replacement.
However, speaking after their friєɴԀly win, manager Gian Piero Gasperini admitted there is no point in arbitrary deadlines, and said that only the ultimate transfer deadline on September 1 counts.
Gasperini made the comments fully acknowledging that Atalanta signed Hojlund from Sturm Graz in late August last year.
He was quoted byCalciomercato: “Even if we set a date, put August 15th, the transfer market isn’t over, if an indecent offer arrives later, the club, the player, decides.
“I would put July 31st as a date but realistically there’s no possibility of putting it, even Højlund was like this last year, it’s all random.”
