Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund
Despite the player enduring a 21-game goalless streak for Manchester United last season, Everton should make a move for striker Rasmus Hojlund. That’s the verdict of Pat Nevin, who played 150 games for the Blues, scoring 21 goals between 1988-92.
Despite the Denmark international having struggled to live up to his price tag at Old Trafford, having joined the Red Devils for £64million plus £8million in add ons from Italian club Atalanta in July 2023, back in March, Everton legend Peter Reid told the Grumpy Old Men podcast: “I think there’s a player in there. I don’t think it’s at Man United at the moment, but I honestly believe this lad will come again.
“And if I was still a manager in the Premier League, I’d be having a look at his kid. I think there’s a sniff of getting him out, because it’s not going to be the money Man United paid I’m assuming.”
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Nevin is of a similar mind and speaking to Spin Genie, who offer the latest jackpot slots, he urged his fellow Glaswegian and old friend David Moyes to make a move. The 61-year-old said: “There are some good names out there. The loan market is something Everton have looked at in the past and I think it's something they should revisit again. It gives them all sorts of possibilities as they're not spending £50 million.
“There are two or three players that they could think about bringing in from Manchester United but Rasmus Hojlund is the one that sticks out. If you look at his style of play, it’s a perfect match with how David Moyes likes to play. While his numbers haven't been great this season, Moyes loves hard workers and that's something you can never complain about in regards to Hojlund.
“It's not very often David Moyes has had a 20-30 goals-per-season striker. He’s had strikers who run in behind and create space to bring others into play, so, if he's available, Hojlund could be a tempting option for Everton to sign on loan.”
Meanwhile, Nevin reckons Blues Jarrad Branthwaite could be a new John Terry at Chelsea but would like him to stay put at Hill Dickinson Stadium. He said: “I've said before that centre-backs don't come into their own until they turn 24, 25 or 26.
“Levi Colwill is 22 and has everything you want in a defender. Chelsea must stick with him in their current model.
"Someone like Marc Guehi is coming into his prime at 24. Would I like to see him partnered with Colwill? Oh yes, definitely. I would love to see that.
“I've been saying for quite a while that Dean Huijsen is one of the best defenders in the world and, if I were Chelsea, he would have been the one I would have gone for. I thought he could replace Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool, so I was surprised to see him end up at Real Madrid.
Former Everton winger Pat Nevin (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“The other defender Chelsea need to consider signing, and I don't want it to happen, is Jarrad Branthwaite. He's young, but acts way beyond his years, and is growing into something special.
“Out of all the current defenders out there at the moment, I think he's the closest there is to John Terry when it comes to leadership and his style of play. My Evertonian hat hopes it will not happen though.
“But you can't have it all, and what we do know is that Colwill is someone Chelsea need to stick with. The dilemma is probably finding the perfect partner for him.
“They've spent a lot of money on centre-backs, which is probably the hardest position to sign in the current model. If you buy them young, they make mistakes and you lose games. That's what we've seen with the centre-backs Chelsea have spent an awful lot of money on.”
Meanwhile, Nevin reckons Ashley Young, Everton’s oldest-ever outfield player and scorer, who has just been released by the club after two seasons at Goodison Park, should join Championship new boys Wrexham. The former England international celebrates his 40th birthday next month but is determined not to hang up his boots just yet.
Nevin, who signed for Everton from Chelsea for £925,000, said: “I love what Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have done at Wrexham. I've got time for anyone who can pick a club up and invest money to bring them back up the leagues. It might be annoying for the teams playing against them but that's what happens at every level of football.
“Ashley Young is so weird. There is no way he should be so fit at the age of 39. If you're a sitting midfielder or number 10 who is waltzing about, it may be understandable, but he's a full-back bombing up and down the wing, which is staggering.
“He does, however, happen to be human, so it's inevitable he will drop off at some point. If he takes a step down, it needs to be for a project and Wrexham is one hell of a project.
“From my point of view, I would encourage it. I think it would be a really good thing for him to do.
“I dropped down a division later on in my career and it was possibly the happiest I ever was whilst playing. My advice would be that his next move won't be to Real Madrid, so he needs to do something he enjoys and ignore anyone who says, 'Oh, it's a step down.'
“He would offer so much experience and leadership to that team. Who else has achieved what he has at Wrexham?
“It would all rub off on his team-mates and be a win-win for both parties. Even if he got injured, he will add something massive off the field.”