Manchester United have received an enquiry after an injury to a former Red Devils forward, and are trying to use it to offload Rasmus Hojlund.
An injury to former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is setting off a panic at Napoli.
Lukaku has suffered a ‘high-grade’ thigh injury that is expected to keep him out of action for ‘months’, The Mail report.
And this has sent Antonio Conte’s side on a panicked search for a replacement late in the transfer window.
United sold Lukaku for £73 million in 2019, the club’s second highest sale of all time behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80 million.
Joshua Zirkzee arrives for game at Old Trafford
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Napoli enquire over Joshua Zirkzee
One of Napoli’s top choices for a replacement was Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee, who starred in Serie A for Bologna.
United bought Zirkzee for £36 million in 2024, and do not intend to allow him to leave the club this summer.
Zirkzee missed pre-season due to an injury, before returning to training a week ago. He made the bench for the opener against Arsenal, but did not feature.
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Corriere dello Sport reported Zirkzee featured on an initial four-man shortlist with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, Roma’s Artem Dobryk, and Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic.
However, Manchester United have proposed another idea, rejecting the enquiry for Zirkzee.
Manchester United propose Rasmus Hojlund solution
Manchester United turned down Napoli’s enquiry for Joshua Zirkzee, and have instead pointed out Rasmus Hojlund’s availability.
TMW reports Napoli have been invited to make an offer for Rasmus Hojlund, who faces a bleak future at Old Trafford.
Rasmus Hojlund failed to make the Manchester United squad to face Arsenal at the weekend, another hint that his future lies away from the club.
AC Milan have been attempting to do a deal for the Dane, who has been reluctant to accept that his time at Manchester United is over already.
Napoli have long-standing interest in Hojlund, but it is unclear whether he is a striker Antonio Conte rates.
For Manchester United, it is a new potential solution, where Hojlund could reunite with Scott McTominay.