Manchester United may hijack Chelsea's move for Mohamed Kudus if they are unable to land Rasmus Hojlund this summer.
Erik ten Hag has already added Mason Mount and Andre Onana to his ranks for a combined fee of £107 million, but the United boss in dire need of a new striker.
Atalanta forward Hojlund has emerged as the club's no. 1 target, but the Serie A side are continuing to play hardball over the 20-year-old's signature.
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According to the Daily Mail, Atalanta are refusing to budge on their €100 million (£86 million) price tag, while United are unwilling to pay more than £60million.
The Red Devils reportedly submitted their first verbal proposal to Atalanta on Wednesday afternoon which includes a €50m (£43m) fixed fee plus €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are thought to be lurking nearby and ready to pounce should Hojlund become available.
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If Atalanta refuse to lower their asking price, however, Ten Hag has identified Ajax attacking-midfielder Kudus as potential alternative, David Ornstein of The Atheltic has claimed.
Chelsea are allegedly leading the race to sign the 22-year-old, while Arsenal have also been credited with an interest.
Indeed, Kudus could be a far cheaper option, with a £40 million price tag mooted by the Independent, less than half of what Atalanta are seeking for Hojlund.
Meanwhile, the player has claimed to be 'as good as Neymar' in an interview with the Guardian, as transfer rumours swirl around the Ghanaian's future.
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The report adds that Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani is also viewed as an alternative, with the French club keen to recoup between £50-£60 million for the striker, as per the Daily Mail.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Manchester United, Chelsea, Ajax, Atalanta, Football, Transfers, Erik Ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino