Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund could be ready for an exit route out of Old Trafford in the final few weeks of the transfer window, according to reports - with Napoli ready to make a loan bid for the Denmark international, which would incorporate a loan-to-buy obligation for the out-of-sorts striker to join them permanently.
The report by Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio states that Napoli are in constant contact for Hojlund, and the Danish striker could return to the Serie A, having left the league two years ago to join United from Atalanta.
Report: Napoli 'Ready' to Offer Loan-With-Obligation for Rasmus Hojlund
man utd rasmus hojlund
He's a 'priority' for Napoli, who want reinforcements for their attack after an injury to star man Romelu Lukaku. Talks are ongoing between the two parties, but the Italian outfit are not ruling out a change of strategy in order to land the beleaguered Danish star.
Antonio Conte's men would rather a loan-with-obligation-to-buy deal, rather than an outright buy for their first-choice transfer target, with Hojlund thought to be ahead of Roma striker Artem Dovbyk and Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson on the shortlist of the Gli Azzurri.
Hojlund joined United for an initial £64million fee, with a potential extra £8million in add-ons, and he largely impressed in his first season at Old Trafford with 16 goals in 43 games for the club, despite a slow start that only saw him bag his first Premier League goal on Boxing Day.
Ten top-flight strikes that season saw him head into last season as United's first-choice up front, but he massively disappointed last time out with just four goals in the league in 32 games, including a 16-game barren streak in the division which stretched from early December to mid-March.
As a result, Ruben Amorim has signed Benjamin Sesko from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig to bolster his ranks, pushing Hojlund further down the pecking order - and with other summer signing Matheus Cunha also able to play up front, as well as last season's strike partner Joshua Zirkzee pushing for minutes, it remains to be seen just how Hojlund can garner minutes.
He was left out of their Premier League curtain-raiser against Arsenal, with both Sesko and Zirkzee making the bench with Cunha leading the line, which was the biggest indication yet that his time in Manchester is all but over - and Napoli could rescue him, having previously excelled in the Italian top-flight for La Dea under Gian Piero Gasperini, which led to United signing him.
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