Manchester United football director in talks for Serie A ace despite €100m valuation

Manchester United football director John Murtough is holding talks with Atalanta for Rasmus Hojlund
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United football director John Murtough is holding talks with Atalanta over a summer move for key ‘striker target’ Rasmus Hojlund.

United manager Erik ten Hag is keen on additional attacking reinforcements to strengthen his side for another cracking season of football. However, the manager has a limited view when it comes to locking down his targets.

The Red Devils’ former target Harry Kane is seen as a luxury signing as Tottenham Hotspur are not ready to budge on their financial demands. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen continues to walk with a heavy price tag on his head. Hence, 20-year-old Hojlund has become the primary focus for Man United in the attacking positions.

Although there are numerous options in the market, like Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos, the prospect of signing the Danish goal-scorer seems to be an alluring one for the manager.

Now, the Manchester Evening News has stated that the club’s football director, Murtough, has been on a mission to complete Ten Hag’s dream by holding talks with Hojlund’s parent club, Atalanta.

Murtough was successful in convincing Chelsea to stick to his original valuation for Mason Mount, and now he has also been involved in Andre Onana’s talks. His influence is crucial to securing more transfer deals.

The football director is said to have met the Serie A giants amid concerns regarding the Danish star’s astronomical €100 million (£85.39m) price tag. Hojlund’s current contract is set to expire in June 2027.

The fact that the young striker has openly talked about his dream to play for a top club like Man United adds more fuel to the fire.

Hojlund joined Atalanta from Sturm Graz last summer and had a successful 2022-23 season, contributing nine goals and four assists in 34 appearances for the Italian club. His consistent performances attracted the attention of the Red Devils, who are now working on all four fronts to seal the deal.

It was earlier revealed that Ten Hag held multiple video calls with the Danish sensation regarding a potential summer move. The Dutch boss is known to hold great admiration for the striker, who began his professional career in Copenhagen.

Hojlund had a breakout season last year after joining Atalanta from Sturm Graz. With the physical presence of a traditional number nine combined with the athleticism and speed of a modern forward, the Danish striker has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland.

It has also been revealed that he has been represented by Kees Vos, the head of the SEG International Agency, since May. Notably, Vos also represents Ten Hag.

It seems that SEG is actively working to facilitate Hojlund’s transfer from Italy to England, indicating that the player himself is eager for the move. The agency was also involved in sealing former United starlet Zidane Iqbal’s move to FC Utrecht last month.

While a deal of this magnitude is complex, the willingness of multiple parties involved to complete the transfer is a positive sign for Man United fans, despite concerns about the transfer fee fitting within their budget. A potential player sale will further enhance the club’s chances of landing the Danish star.