Man Utd striker Hojlund available for £30m

Rasmus Hojlund joined Manchester United from Atalanta in 2023

Manchester United are prepared to sell striker Rasmus Hojlund for £30m.

The Denmark striker scored twice against Bournemouth in Chicago on Wednesday.

Immediately after the game he sought out waiting journalists to say his intention was to remain at United despite their ongoing interest in signing RB Leipzigs Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko.

However, the situation is not straightforward.

Newcastle are also keen on Sesko but are yet to strike a deal with RB Leipzig for the 22-year-old.

United are waiting to decide their next move and there have been reports the player would prefer a switch to Old Trafford.

United sources are adamant they could do a deal before selling players.

But it is accepted that there would have to be exits to ensure they remain compliant with the Premier Leagues profit and sustainability rules.

And, if Sesko arrived, Hojlund would be marginalised.

If Hojlund was sold for £30m, it would be a loss for United given the forwards book value is £43m as he is two years into the five-year contract he signed.

United have spent almost £130m this summer on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

By common consent, when Uniteds troublesome Premier League campaign came to an end in May, the key failing that had to be addressed was their lack of goals.

Most assumed that meant a new number nine would be signed.

That United made a big play for Liam Delap - available for £30m from Ipswich - before he signed for Chelsea indicated key figures at Old Trafford felt the same.

Yet now, more than £120m later and with two new additions more at home behind a main forward rather than as one, United are still trying to bring in that number nine - hence the ongoing interest in signing Sesko.

Would this be the end for Hojlund?

Though many thought they overpaid at the time, the recruitment team behind then manager Erik ten Hag felt it was worth signing off a £72m fee to bring in Hojlund from Italian club Atalanta.

At the time, Ten Hag said Hojlund had "huge potential" but he had "to prove it". So far, he has not done so.

He scored just four league goals all season, with understudy Joshua Zirkzee only managing three.

It has to be said, Hojlunds goals came from chances worth a measly 5.2 expected goals, showing the lack of opportunities he was being provided with - or making for himself.

BBC pundit and former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton has highlighted the lack of chances being created.

"Have United been providing him with the chances and the opportunities? The answer to that is no," he said.

"But also, you have to consider whether he has done well enough. Has he ever been a prolific goalscorer? That would be the nagging doubt and is something I have debated with United fans.

"It is not to say he doesnt have time on his side, and his attitude is good too."

But in a summer during which Alvaro Carreras joined Real Madrid - fulfilling the promise many in the clubs academy felt he had before they were overruled by Ten Hag and others who believed the full-back was not quick enough to excel at the highest level - are they ready to give up on Hojlund just yet?