Manchester United have problems to address up front this summer.
A turbulent season saw Manchester United score just 44 league goals last season, the fifth-lowest in the English top flight and the club’s worst return in the Premier League era.
That explains why Ruben Amorim is targeting players who can provide goals.
United already signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves and they are now targeting a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Last week, United had a second bid rejected for Mbeumo, but Ineos are not giving up on the Cameroon international.
The additions for forward players could see United sell other attackers who are deemed surplus to requirements. That could include the United players who were sent on loan last season or Rasmus Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund playing for Denmark during the summer.
Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Rasmus Hojlund ‘likely’ to leave Manchester United
After a promising debut campaign resulted in 16 goals for Hojlund, the Denmark international saw his goalscoring output drop significantly last season.
Hojlund scored just 10 goals in 52 appearances for United, with only four of those goals coming in the Premier League.
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The 22-year-old has struggled to lead the line in United’s attack, which has led to the Red Devils being linked with more strikers, which could see Hojlund pushed down the pecking order.
Up until this point, Hojlund’s first two years at Old Trafford have seen him being the sole striker because Joshua Zirkzee was preferred in a deeper role under Amorim.
Harry Maguire was impressed by Hojlund after training with the striker ahead of pre-season next week, but his future could be away from United.
Speaking on the Talk of the Devils podcast, Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic claimed Hojlund is now more likely to leave United than stay this summer.
“I do think it is linked to Rasmus Hojlund’s future [Ollie Watkins links] if he goes,” Whitwell said.
“I’m speaking to people, and that’s perhaps more likely than not at this stage. Even a sale is more likely than a loan. We’ll see how it develops, but Inter are there firmly.
“If he goes, I can’t see how United can’t replace him. They would need an option and Ollie Watkins to my knowledge is one of those options.”
Inter Milan are firmly interested in the Dane, having tracked him before his move to Old Trafford when Hojlund played in Serie A.
The Italian outfit continues to monitor Hojlund’s situation closely.
Watkins stats compared to Hojlund
It goes without saying that Watkins is closer to what United need than Hojlund.
The 29-year-old would be expected to make an instant impact for Amorim’s side. It would be a move that would represent United stepping away from signing young strikers who lack experience at the top level as Watkins has already proven himself in the Premier League.
Across his Aston Villa career, Watkins has returned 109 Premier League goal involvements in 184 games.
Watkins’ stats last season were also far more impressive than Hojlund.
Games Goals Assists
54 17 14
Ollie Watkins stats 2024/25 for Aston Villa
Games Goals Assists
52 10 4
Rasmus Hojlund stats 2024/25 for Manchester United