When Manchester United decided to focus entirely on Rasmus Hojlund instead of Harry Kane last summer, it caught everyone off guard.
In his first ten games for the team, the former Atalanta star, who cost United well under £70 million when add-ons are taken into account, has left a good impression.
Though he has yet to score in the Premier PINC 0.0% League, his three goals in three Champions League games point to a prolific scorer on the horizon.
It has to be acknowledged that the majority of people don’t like Manchester United’s current style, and the team lacks true inventiveness in the closing third.
Hojlund, who is only 20 years old, has the raw skills to develop into one of Europe’s top center forwards. The Denmark international, who stands 191 cm tall, makes good use of his muscular stature and has demonstrated his physicality to intimidate center defenders.
He possesses not only the size but also the acceleration and speed to match. Hojlund’s turn of speed, even without the ball, is incredibly rapid, as seen by his second goal in the Champions League against Galatasaray, where he managed to escape the defender’s grasp. Hojlund was one-on-one with the goalkeeper when he scored, and he stayed cool to dink it in.
The Red Devils have, for the most part, struggled to find innovative methods to overwhelm opponents and have often looked lifeless on offense. They are struggling to hold a lead, which is why they have pulled off three thrilling victories in the final minutes against FC Copenhagen, Sheffield United, and Brentford.
Even while those surrounding him appeared to lack attacking skill, Hojlund’s overall performance keeps becoming better. Every ninety minutes, he improves his build-up play with the ball in front of him, drawing players in and surrounding him, and making runs. Several times, he has made a late lunge in the box and been unfortunate not to find the back of the net.
Fans find great encouragement in the early glimpses of a talent with a decade ahead of him, but there is undoubtedly much more to come from him. Ever since United has a center forward who isn’t aging out, much less one who is just starting his career at the highest level, it has been high tide.
Hojlund ought to be in a great position to make some major ripples once United starts to get back its injured players into the starting lineup and positivity starts to flow on the field. Without a question, he is a top-tier Premier League striker; the task at hand is to develop those around him so that he may be used more.
