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Topics: Football, Transfers, Atalanta, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Transfers, Atalanta, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag
Manchester United may have an advantage in the race to sign Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.
United are seeking to bolster their squad, with next season promising the return of Champions League after a third-place Premier League finish.
Erik ten Hag has made a centre-forward a priority signing this summer, given the underwhelming return of United’s current crop.
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In all competitions, Anthony Martial scored only nine goals in an injury-hit campaign while the on-loan Wout Weghorst managed just two, none of which were in the Premier League.
And according to the Athletic, United’s football director John Murtough has spoken to Atalanta over the prospect of signing Hojlund on multiple occasions.
While the 20-year-old has several suitors across Europe United may have the advantage in the pursuit for the striker.
As highlighted by the Athletic, Hojlund has signed up with the SEG agency in anticipation of a move at some stage in his short to medium-term future.
Indeed, Ten Hag is also represented by SEG, while the agency’s co-founder Kees Voss is a regular at Old Trafford. Voss even watched United's win over Fulham on Sunday from the director's box.
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Hojlund has netted eight times and claimed two assists in 31 Serie A games in 2022-23 since arriving from Sturm Graz last summer.
The Denmark international also notched five goals in just two games for his country during Euro 2024 qualifying in March, including a hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Finland.
The Athletic claim United have also held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over Randal Kolo Muani, with the German club open to selling the 24-year-old for the right price.
Kolo Muani signed a five-year deal with Frankfurt in 2022 after spells in France with Nantes and Boulogne.
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Frankfurt would reportedly demand as much as €80million (£68.7million) for the French international, which would stretch United’s budget. Hojlund, however, would reportedly be less expensive.