Manchester United‘s new-look attack didn’t exactly get off to an electrifying start on Matchday 1, falling 1-0 to Premier League title contenders and rivals Arsenal, but they were able to amass 22 shots and hoard 62 percent of the possession, at least giving Red Devils supporters positive signs of what’s to come.
Only Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha started, with the ex-Wolves star playing up top while new No. 9 Benjamin Sesko came in off the bench. Even if it’s just on paper, the revamped Manchester United attack certainly looks a lot more dangerous and plays more exciting, even without Sesko in the XI.
Joshua Zirkzee is going to stick around at Old Trafford after one season with the club, but the other young striker from Serie A, Rasmus Hojlund, is in heavy talks to head back to Italy.
AC Milan have been the most frequently linked name to the Danish forward, but there’s a new, better team in Serie A that is currently pursuing the 22-year-old former Atalanta prospect.
Rasmus Hojlund could replace a former Manchester United striker
According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Napoli have been in “direct contact” with Manchester United for a new striker, as ex-United No. 9 Romelu Lukaku is now out with a devastating three-month injury, leaving the Partenopei in a lurch after they already sold forwards Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori this summer.
Napoli would like to sign Hojlund on loan. Romano also adds in his transfer news update on the Hojlund to Napoli story that Manchester United are still not interested in selling Zirkzee at this time.
Hojlund was one of the best young forward in Serie A for a season in Bergamo, thus getting his big move to Old Trafford. And while Hojlund was very raw then and scored just 9 goals, his dribbling skills and athleticism made him an all-around threat greater than the sum of his very modest goals and assists total.
So Hojlund could be a good, cheap fit on loan to replace Lukaku for a few months, as he can do the dribbling and industry in that system. But obviously, he can’t score, think, or even create at the level of the Belgian icon.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.