TBR Football understands that Napoli are progressing with talks with Manchester United over Rasmus Hojlund after learning the extent of Romelu Lukaku’s injury.
The Serie A champions saw Lukaku go down with a thigh injury against Olympiakos earlier this month, and now the club have learned that the Belgian is not likely to play again this year.
The news is a major blow, with Lukaku contributing 14 goals and 10 assists to their Scudetto success last term.
Whilst surgery is not needed – Antonio Conte has made it clear to owner Aurelio De Laurentiis that he needs a top-class replacement for the Belgian, and he has agreed.
SSC Napoli v Brest - Pre-Season Friendly
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Napoli signed Lorenzo Lucca instead of Darwin Nunez earlier this summer, and now they have turned their attention to Hojlund.
It has become apparent to Hojlund that he has no future at Old Trafford and now the Dane is ready to leave Manchester United before the deadline.
Juventus expressed interest, but with Dusan Vlahovic now staying, their interest remains focused on Randal Kolo Muani. Likewise, AC Milan have instead opted for Victor Boniface.
Exclusive: Napoli want Rasmus Hojlund to replace Romelu Lukaku
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has exclusively revealed that Napoli are in active talks with Manchester United, and Hojlund is keen on the move.
Bailey states: “Napoli are putting all their efforts into Hojlund now, and I am told the player is hugely keen to move to Naples. With Lukaku not playing this year, there is a real chance for him to make an impact under Antonio Conte.”
The terms of the negotiations are likely to be a loan deal with a purchase option, but one that is attainable for the Italian outfit.
Hojlund had insisted on remaining at United earlier this summer, but a complete overhaul of the attacking line at Old Trafford has led him to reconsider his stance.
F.C. Copenhagen v Manchester United: Group A - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
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The £74 million arrival of Benjamin Sesko further clarifies the situation, as although the Slovenian was named on the bench for the Premier League opener against Arsenal, Hojlund was excluded from the matchday squad.
Furthermore, summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have immediately integrated into Ruben Amorim’s first-team plans in Manchester, leaving little room for Hojlund to compete for a starting berth.
Rasmus Hojlund failed to impress at Manchester United last season
In his maiden campaign at Manchester United, Hojlund showed significant promise, contributing 16 goals across all competitions, including 6 goals in 5 outings in the Champions League.
However, the 22-year-old took a significant step back in his development last year, returning only 10 goals in 52 appearances.
Indeed, Hojlund appeared short of confidence, and the weight of expectation to deliver on his once highly regarded potential has taken its toll.
Nevertheless, there is plenty of time remaining in his career to overturn his fortunes outside of the Premier League, and a return to Serie A, where he first made his name at Atalanta, seems the most desirable outcome for all parties.