19 July 2023 , 00:03
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Manchester United want to sign Rasmus Hojlund, but are also reportedly working on a contingency plan due to concerns around Atalanta’s asking price.
United are close to completing their second signing of the summer transfer window, with Andre Onana set to undergo a medical on Wednesday ahead of a £43million move from Inter Milan. Having secured a replacement for David de Gea, to go with the £60m addition of Mason Mount, the club are now ready to push for a striker.
Hojlund has emerged as United’s number one target for the position and the 20-year-old has already agreed personal terms. He is keen to move to Old Trafford, despite having spent just a year with Atalanta following a transfer last summer from Austrian side Sturm Graz.
But there is a potential stumbling block, with Atalanta understood to want €70m (£60m) plus add-ons for the Danish international. ESPN reports that United deem that valuation to be too steep for a young player with just one season of Serie A football behind him.
Hojlund contributed 10 goals and four assists in 34 games for Atalanta across all competitions last season and has six goals in as many games for Denmark. The high asking price has a lot to do with the fact he is under contract with Atalanta until June 2027.
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United will bid for Hojlund in the hope of driving down the transfer fee, but they are reportedly also working concurrently on an offer for Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani. The 24-year-old scored 23 goals for Frankfurt last season and also caught the eye while playing for France at the World Cup in Qatar.
Kolo Muani is also under contract with his club until June 2027 and United were told earlier this year that he was valued at £78m by Frankfurt. Nevertheless, he has been open in his desire to leave the club and join a “big” side in the future.
Randal Kolo Muani is Manchester United's back-up plan (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Which striker would you prefer Manchester United to sign this summer? Comment below.
“We talk about it a lot already, but I try to be focused on my club. We continue our performances and we will see this summer. Afterwards, I always dreamed of playing in big clubs,” he told L’Equipe in March.
“I thought I was going to need some time to adapt, maybe a year. But everything exploded. Either way, I’m ready for any challenge. I ask the club to get me my statistics on my matches each time.
"I share this with my physical trainer to know what to improve. I do a lot of goals and assists, but it’s not at the level where I should be. I still miss quite a bit. This is only my third (full) season as a pro."
Ten Hag will consider selling Anthony Martial this summer, but Marcus Rashford has committed his future to United by signing a new five-year contract worth £400,000-a-week.