Roy Keane speaks on Sky Sports.
Roy Keane has outlined his concerns about Rasmus Hojlund.
(Image: Sky Sports.)
When Manchester United swooped for Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta in August 2023, it goes without saying that they paid over the odds.
In his first and only season at the Italian club, the Dane scored ten goals in 34 appearances across all competitions. It was a respectable return, but it was by no means eye-catching.
However, United made the decision to pay £64million for his signature. The package could still rise to £72m.
United, who had been interested in Harry Kane earlier in the window, were in desperate need of a striker and their search eventually led them to Hojlund. However, they bought potential rather than a finished product.
He arrived at Old Trafford as an incredibly raw 20-year-old who suddenly had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had been brought in to strengthen an attack that had been too reliant on Marcus Rashford in the 2022/23 campaign.
In truth, the jump from being a starting striker at Atalanta to being a starting striker at United was just too big for the Dane at such a young age. With the exception of the injury-prone Anthony Martial, Hojlund did not have anyone he could lean on for guidance or support.
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Despite that, he plundered a respectable 16 goals in his maiden season in England, and there was hope he would build on that tally in 2024/25. However, his performances regressed and he scored just ten goals, of which only four were netted in the Premier League.
It further highlighted the feeling that Hojlund should have been signed to perform the role of United's secondary striker. Martial's injury record meant the Denmark international immediately had to step up and shoulder United's goalscoring burden.
"Hojlund, in his defence, I think should have been a back-up striker," former United captain Roy Keane told Sky Sports last month. "Third or fourth choice, and learn his trade off some brilliant strikers.
Rasmus Hojlund cuts a frustrated figure following the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Rasmus Hojlund struggled in his second season at Old Trafford.
(Image: Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images.)
"He is not good enough. He is lacking in confidence and belief and he is not surrounded by brilliance either.
"If people think they can fix that in one summer, it is not going to happen."
Since making that admission after United were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge almost four weeks ago, United have learnt of interest from Inter Milan in Hojlund's signature. United are prepared to sell any player this summer and the striker is one of the more likely candidates to be moved on to raise funds for new additions.
Whether Hojlund stays or goes, United desperately want to recruit a new No.9 this summer. Despite originally targeting Liam Delap, there is a need for them to recruit someone who is an established goalscorer and ready to hit the ground running.
Much of the current speculation centres around Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. Both are proven goalscorers who have hit brilliant numbers in recent seasons.
It is a striker of that ilk that United need to be signing this summer, as opposed to another striker in the bracket of Hojlund, who was recruited based on potential.
Keane was right that Hojlund should have been signed to provide competition and not be the frontman of United's attack. This summer it feels almost inevitable that United will go down the right route when trying to bring in a No.9.