Christian Eriksen explains what Denmark teammate Rasmus Hojlund will bring to Manchester United

Christian Eriksen has backed Denmark teammate Rasmus Hojlund to fit into life at Manchester United and in the Premier League ahead of his impending move to Old Trafford.

United have agreed a fee of £64million with Atalanta to sign the 20-year-old, with a further £8million in potential add-ons, and he will sign a five-year contract with the option for a further year once he has completed his medical.

Hojlund scored nine goals in 32 Serie A appearances last season, but has struck six times in as many games for Denmark. He will arrive at United after just a year with Atalanta, who signed him from Sturm Graz for €17million a year ago.

He had only been with the Austrian side for six months after they agreed a €1.8million fee with FC Copenhagen and his rise has been a rapid one, with his performances on the international stage particularly eye-catching.

Eriksen has played with him for Denmark and has been impressed by the speed of his development over the past year and the way he has emerged as a pure No. 9, with United desperate for someone to fill that role this summer.

“He’s a strong number nine,” Eriksen said when asked what Hojlund was like. “He’s developed a lot in the last year from when I first saw him with the national team (to) a year’s time, so, yeah, he’s a very good player.”

Hojlund scored a hat-trick in his third cap for Denmark in their 3-1 win against Finland in March and added two more four days later against Kazakhstan.

He also scored twice in his final three games of the season for Atalanta, at which point Erik ten Hag had already held video calls with him about the prospect of joining United.

There was interest from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with the Ligue 1 side having a bid of €50million rejected, but Hojlund had his heart set on United.

He had flown under the radar until news of the interest from Old Trafford broke and Eriksen puts that down to the fact he is from Denmark.

“I suppose we don’t get enough media attention in Denmark that’s why, so people outside Denmark don’t know enough,” he said. “He’s a nice guy, he’s a good player. Like I said, he’s developed, turning into just a nine, which he’s played for the national team.

“I have to be honest I haven’t seen that many games for Atalanta, but I know how they play and he fitted in well there, so, yeah, he’s a good player.”

Eriksen hasn’t spoken to Hojlund about United recently but did discuss life at Old Trafford in the last international break in June, joking he told him about the good and the bad of being at the club.

“I spoke to him when we were with the national team last time,” he said. “But of course, I’ve said a lot of good stuff – and also said some bad stuff – but in the end it’s what’s going to happen.”