Lineker 'not convinced' by Man Utd new boy Hojlund after £72m transfer
Gary Lineker is unconvinced that Rasmus Hojlund can live up to his price tag after the Danish international completed his £72million move to Manchester United.
Hojlund has joined the Red Devils from Atalanta, finally ending their summer-long search for a striker. Boss Erik ten Hag is hoping that the Dane can be the solution to United's troubles up-front, with the Dutchman forced to bring in Wout Weghorst on loan in January.
But Lineker has doubts that United will get their money's worth out of Hojlund this season. While he believes Ten Hag's other additions in Andre Onana and Mason Mount will work out, he questioned the decision to bring in a player who has never featured in the Premier League before.
"I’m really looking forward to seeing Manchester United’s new goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Cameroonian, from Inter Milan, is excellent with the ball at his feet and I’m interested to see how that changes the way Erik ten Hag’s side build up from the back," he told The Sun.
"Onana’s greatest strength was David de Gea’s real weakness. Sure, Onana will make some cock-ups but the benefits of having a keeper who can play will outweigh those moments when he gets things wrong.
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"Mason Mount is another good signing. He’s an under-rated player because a lot of what he does goes under the radar — he presses so well and works hard. He dipped at Chelsea last year but so did everyone at Stamford Bridge. He needs this fresh start.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Rasmus Hojlund be a success at Manchester United? Comment below.
Rasmus Hojlund has completed his move to Manchester United, but not everyone is convinced the striker will be a success (Manchester United via Getty Imag)"United have spent a lot of money on 20-year-old Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta and I can’t say I have seen a lot of him. Perhaps they see him more as one for the long term but I’m not convinced he’s going to make the difference for them."
While Lineker has his doubts, Ten Hag is confident that Hojlund can become a success at Old Trafford. But the Dutchman did concede that Hojlund needs to prove his worth.
“He is really a front man, very direct to the goal. A very good presser, a physical presence and I think in the balance of this squad we needed that. Alongside Rashford, [he is] another player who is direct and can score goals and that is all in his mind," he said.
“I think he has such a huge potential and now it is up first to him to explore that and we will support him – all the coaches. l’m sure the whole team was waiting for a type like him and they will integrate and in the dressing room or on the pitch they will help him.
“But as I said, finally the player – he has to prove it. That is the characters we need: we need hungry players and he is a player who is so determined to score goals and win games and win trophies."
United will have to wait to see how Hojlund fares, with the 21-year-old set to be ruled out for several weeks. He picked up a problem in pre-season training with Atalanta and will not be available for several weeks.
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