August 5th 2023.
Manchester United have finally secured a new number nine as they confirmed the signing of Rasmus Hojlund from Serie A side Atalanta. The Red Devils have been locked in negotiations with the Italian side for several weeks, and the deal could reach up to £72 million. While Atalanta had originally hoped for a club-record fee of €90 million, they have settled for a fixed fee of £64 million, plus an additional £8 million in add-ons.
Hojlund, who is represented by the same agency as Erik Ten Hag, had already agreed to personal terms and was delighted at the chance to join United, the club he has supported since he was a child. On Tuesday, he completed the medical at Carrington and signed a five-year deal - with the option of an additional 12 months. Hojlund is now the sixth-most expensive signing in United’s history.
With Anthony Martial limited to just 11 starts in the Premier League last season due to injury and Wout Weghorst failing to score in 17 league outings, Ten Hag had identified a new striker as his top transfer priority this summer. After deciding not to pursue a deal for Tottenham contract rebel Harry Kane, Hojlund quickly became the ideal addition.
The 20-year-old has already made an impact with the Danish national team, scoring six goals in six caps. He also netted nine times in 32 Serie A appearances last season after joining Atalanta from Austrian side Sturm Graz, where he had scored 12 goals in 21 games. His hat-trick against Finland during the Euro 2024 qualifiers in March further highlighted his potential.
Hojlund's arrival takes United’s spending this summer to around the £175 million mark, after they signed Mason Mount and Andre Onana. The Red Devils could yet swoop for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat too, as Ten Hag looks to build a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title.
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