Finally, it appears as though Manchester United has a reliable number nine around which to develop.
That man is Rasmus Hojlund, who made an impression in his first season at Old Trafford in spite of a lot of criticism.
The number 11 is only 21 years old, and he has already scored five goals in the Champions League and ten in the Premier League—not bad for a striker with his lack of experience.
But because Anthony Martial is rarely available, he’s frequently been pushed to the brink, therefore it’s not shocking to learn that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering making a move for a centre forward.
Man Utd want to find a Hojlund backup
Joselu, a centre forward, is reportedly a “priority target” for Man United this summer, according to recent sources from Spain.
The Spaniard is currently on loan from second-tier team Espanyol to Real Madrid; however, when that deal expires in June, both the Red Devils and his current club will try to sign him.
The Manchester club has reportedly shown “consistent interest” in the attacker as they prepare to make a bid for him. Furthermore, it’s anticipated that United would put forward an offer for a two-year contract with £4.3 million in salary per season if they want to pursue Joselu.
Why Joselu could make Hojlund unstoppable
After going back to his native Spain, former Stoke City and Newcastle United star Joselu has completely turned his career around.
The Spaniard, who scored 16 La Liga goals for a relegated Espanyol the previous season, went on a season-long loan to Real Madrid, where he is now considered “the best sub ever” by journalist Julien Laurens.
This is because of his dramatic last-minute brace against Bayern Munich, which advanced Los Blancos to the Champions League final. Despite not being a first-choice starter, the player has shown he can step up when it counts.
Nevertheless, the 34-year-old has scored an amazing 17 goals in all competitions this season and has been finding the net frequently.
You would wonder, though, how Hojlund could possibly be improved by a competitor for his job. It’s a known fact that Ten Hag has recently expressed a desire to relieve the youthful forward of part of his workload.
| Hojlund vs Joselu 23/24 League Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats | Hojlund | Joselu |
| Matches | 30 | 34 |
| Goals | 10 | 10 |
| xG | 7.64 | 11.57 |
| Assists | 2 | 2 |
| Shots (per game) | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Touches (per game) | 22.8 | 16.1 |
| Passes completed (per game) | 10 | 7.5 |
| Via Sofascore | ||
The former Atalanta star has struggled with a few injuries over the past year, while he’s also looked visibly exhausted on the field, which obviously won’t provide results.
As we’ve seen in recent weeks when he’s in as a replacement, having an experienced player who can fill in as a rotation option would therefore allow Hojlund to be alert and completely fit when called upon, thereby raising his performance levels.
His goals against Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion only serve to illustrate how lethal he can be when playing at his best. In general, Joselu would not only give Hojlund a different playing style and score goals, but he would also improve the Dane’s skill level, which might prove to be quite beneficial.
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