Inside Man Utd’s search for a striker as Harry Kane’s incredible wage demands saw Erik ten Hag turn to Hojlund transfer
ERIK TEN HAG began the transfer window chasing Harry Kane but has ended it convinced he really does have the right man in Rasmus Hojlund.
They abandoned their chase for Totteham’s all-time top scorer early on.
While the Manchester United boss was full of admiration for the player, there were negatives.
The biggest of which was then shock wage demands that they believed equated to £577,000 a week.
That would go against Ten Hag’s belief that to have a unified dressing room not one player should be earning vastly more than the rest.
And that would be vastly more, with Marcus Rashford becoming the new top earner this summer after signing a new contract worth £325,000 a week.
Then there was the prospect of protracted dealings with a very reticent Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy, as Bayern Munich are finding out.
Then there was the age.
Kane has just turned 30-years-old, Hojlund is ten years younger at 20.
While Kane is the proven Premier League goalscoring predator and one of the best strikers in the world, the question is for how much longer.
DREAM TEAM IS LIVE – JOIN NOW TO BATTLE FOR THE £50k TOP PRIZE
Ten Hag is excited about the prospect he has in Hojlund who he believes is physically and mentally right to be a hit in the Premier League.
A player, with energy and fight.
Sir Alex Ferguson always used to look into the character of the player as well as his footballing ability.
Could he cope with being at Old Trafford? Especially with the burden of a £72million transfer fee.
Can Hojlund carry the goalscoring burden of being the Manchester United number nine they have been looking for?
Well, Ten Hag is convinced he can handle that pressure.
He loves the way he can sniff out an opportunity but also press opponents and get in behind them.
While Kane is the proven Premier League goalscoring predator and one of the best strikers in the world, the question is for how much longer.
At 6ft 3” he is also just an inch shorter than Manchester City’s goalscoring machine Erling Haaland.
Hojlund began his career at FC Copenhagen before moving to Sturm Graz and then Atalanta for last season.
He has 27 career goals in 87 games with nine in Serie A last season.
But it was his six goals in the last four of his six internationals that helped to convince Ten Hag.
His capture completes a successful summer in the transfer market for Manchester United Football Director John Murtough.
In signing a five-year deal, with the option of an extra year, Hojlund joins midfielder £60million Mason Mount and goalkeeper Andre Onana, who moved from Inter Milan for £47million.
But it was the new striker they really needed.
Murtough said: “Rasmus is a truly exceptional talent; he possesses technical and physical attributes which rank him amongst the best players in the world for his age group.
“Working under Erik ten Hag and his coaches will provide Rasmus with the perfect development platform; everyone across the club will ensure that he is given the time and all the support required to reach his immense potential
“Throughout the summer we have acted quickly and decisively to secure our primary targets early in the transfer window.
“This will ensure that Erik and his coaches have the best opportunity to prepare the squad to push for further success in the exciting campaign ahead.”