08 July 2023 , 07:45
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Spending big to sign Rasmus Hojlund this summer would represent a significant gamble for Manchester United, according to Nicky Butt.
United are in need of a top striker in the transfer window, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in December leaving a hole in their squad. The loan signing of Wout Weghorst in January did little to address the problem and Erik ten Hag now wants to make a statement signing to follow the £60million capture of Mason Mount.
Hojlund is one of the players they are considering and the Manchester Evening News reports that football director John Murtough has met Atalanta officials to discuss a move. Mirror Football understands that United want to loan Mason Greenwood to the Italian club to help facilitate a transfer for Hojlund.
The 20-year-old has 10 goals and four assists in 34 games for Atalanta and it is understood that Ten Hag prefers a move for Hojlund over Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani. Former United midfielder Butt has urged caution in the pursuit, however, claiming it will take the Danish international time to settle in a new environment.
“He's a good young player," Butt told Sky Sports. "The recruitment team at Man Utd are obviously looking all over the world for these kinds of players because they are hard to find.
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“ Harry Kane has been mentioned for so many years in a row but that seems to have been pushed to the side. Whoever they buy has to fit into the squad, age-wise they have to be the right age to get some value on them when they leave the football club. You can't keep buying players for big money and having no return.
"He seems like the right fit, but it's a gamble when you buy someone from a different league. He's never played in our league and you don't know what it's going to be like when he comes here.
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"But you can only rely on recruitment. You're ultimately as good as your recruitment team so we’ll see how that pans out."
Hojlund only joined Atalanta from Sturm Graz last year and he is under contract with the Italian club until June 2027. That gives them a strong negotiating position, although United do have a trump card of their own.
The MEN says Ten Hag’s agent Kees Vos took over representing Hojlund in May and could help to send the Dane to Old Trafford.
With Weghorst’s loan deal having expired and Greenwood still suspended by the club, United have just Anthony Martial on the books as a centre-forward. And with Mount now over the line and a £40m deal for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana progressing, a striker will soon be the priority for Murtough.