Mark Goldbridge believes Man Utd are returning to Cristiano Ronaldo era with Rasmus Hojlund signing

Mark Goldbridge has claimed that the impending move of Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United is similar in terms of policy to the club's 2003 signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.

United are close to sealing a deal for the 20-year-old Atalanta striker, who scored 10 goals in his debut Serie A season.

The tall forward, who scored a hat-trick for Denmark against Kazakhstan in March, will solve a major dilemma for Erik ten Hag as he looks to add goalscoring options to his squad.

Hojlund very much represents a transfer based on potential, even though he has shown great ability already in his short career.

According to Sky Sports, United will pay an up-front fee of £64 million plus a potential £8 million in add-ons.

Earlier this month, Goldbridge gave his take on the impending transfer - believing it represents something of a return to the Cristiano Ronaldo era.

Goldbridge on Cristiano Ronaldo

Writing in a column for talkSPORT, Goldbridge explained: "Manchester United have always had this attachment to youth since the 1930s, we've had the Busby Babes, the class of 92. It's what Manchester United is all about.

"We've been criticised for buying the finished article, spending a lot of money on players like Angel Di Maria or Paul Pogba, and Hojlund actually represents something that we did with Cristiano Ronaldo all those years ago.

"You buy a talent who's not quite there yet, so you don't pay as much. And we've got a manager renowned for being a developmental one.

"There's a lot of experience in [the squad] already, with Casemiro and Raphael Varane. [Mason] Mount's quite experienced for his years, [Marcus] Rashford is quite experienced.

"This team has a place for Hojlund and Ten Hag really likes him."

Should the Dane finalise his move to Old Trafford, he will become the club's third signing of the summer.

Ten Hag's side have already sealed moves for Mason Mount from Chelsea and Andre Onana from Inter Milan, filling two vital gaps in the squad in the process.