01 August 2023 , 15:38
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Rasmus Hojlund has arrived at Manchester Airport ahead of completing his proposed move to Manchester United.
The 20-year-old touched down in Ringway at approximately 4:15pm after United agreed a deal with Atalanta for Hojlund over the weekend. The Denmark international was an unused substitute in Atalanta's pre-season win over Bournemouth on Saturday as neither club wanted to take the risk with a £72million move in the pipeline.
After arriving in England, Hojlund jumped into a car and is now set to undergo a medical before signing a five-year contract with the option of a further 12 months at Old Trafford. United are expected to pay Atalanta an initial fee of £64m, with a potential further £8m payable if performance-related add-ons are met.
The deal will bring to an end a summer-long search for a new centre forward at the Red Devils. United had been linked with a move for Tottenham's Harry Kane, but have since turned to Hojlund, who scored 10 times in 34 appearances for Atalanta last season.
Hojlund will follow Mason Mount and Andre Onana through the Old Trafford doors, taking United's summer spending to above £150m. Erik ten Hag was said to have just a £120m budget to spend on new players, but the Glazers and the United hierarchy have budged and handed the Dutchman extra funds.
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The move is expected to be completed a few days after Luke Shaw sent a transfer plea to the Glazers as United still continued to search for a new striker. "We've already signed some very good players and hopefully there's more additions to come to strengthen the squad," the left-back said on Monday.
Rasmus Hojlund is set for his Manchester United medical (Getty Images)"I don't really want to comment too much on that [Hojlund deal]. I think obviously he's not our player yet, so I won't say too much. Of course, we've got [Anthony] Martial, [Marcus] Rashford at the moment and [Jadon] Sancho, who can play there. But an out-and-out striker is what we need and we're desperate for one. I'm very sure that the club know that, the manager knows that and us players would love one to come, too."
United had been playing with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho up front during pre-season after Wout Weghorst returned to Burnley following the expiry of his six-month loan spell. Anthony Martial is the Red Devils' only senior striker in the squad, but he has struggled with injuries over the past 12 months and hasn't been available.
Hojlund could make his United debut in a friendly against Lens on Saturday and will be available for the start of the competitive season - just as Ten Hag wanted. The Red Devils face Wolves at Old Trafford in their opening Premier League encounter on August 14.