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A touted star of the longer term, Rasmus Hojlund might quickly be a Manchester United participant.
The 20-year-old striker made such an impression in his debut season at Atalanta that Erik ten Hag is keen to sanction a £59.9m transfer for the ahead. Hyperlinks with Harry Kane, Randal Kolo Muani and Victor Osimhen have come and gone, with the Dutch coach seemingly content material with the youthful and cheaper Hojlund.
The signings of Mason Mount and Andre Onana have already raised expectations at Outdated Trafford and the arrival of Hojlund will solely add extra stress on the Crimson Devils to succeed subsequent season.
Securing Champions League qualification, profitable the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup remaining helped Ten Hag win over the membership’s supporters, however with each passing yr comes a better expectation to win extra significant trophies and problem for Europe’s largest prizes.
The consensus amongst these in Manchester was that had the membership had a extra prolific and orthodox quantity 9 final yr, the Crimson Devils might have achieved even better issues. Subsequent season, Ten Hag might have the person he wants to remodel United.
When in comparison with United’s present strikers Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, Hojlund affords the Crimson Devils a totally totally different menace. The teen is extremely bodily, has good tempo and an unbelievable nous for locating area within the penalty space.
With a little bit assist from FBref, we are able to analyse how Hojlund compares to United’s present attacking choices.
When trying on the extra apparent metrics of what makes striker – objectives and assists – Hojlund has proven his means to contribute successfully. He scored 12 objectives and registered 4 assists in 37 matches with Sturm Graz and Atalanta final season. Rashford, who’s extra comfy coming off the left-hand aspect, managed 17 objectives and 5 assists in 35, whereas Martial, who struggled for health final time period, registered simply six objectives and two assists in 21 matches.
Nevertheless, Hojlund solely began 24 of 37, whereas Rashford began 32 of 35, highlighting how spectacular Hojlund’s statistics are given his extra managed recreation time. Equally, Martial solely began 11 instances final time period, displaying he’s nonetheless efficient in entrance of aim when match.
Each Hojlund and Rashford outperformed their anticipated objectives by roughly two objectives every. This both highlights their proficiency in entrance of aim or means that their present goalscoring feats will not be sustainable long-term. Given Rashford’s consistency and expertise, the previous most likely applies to him, whereas Hojlund stays a extra unknown amount.
Nevertheless, Hojlund’s arrival can profit Rashford enormously. One of many Englishman’s finest attributes is his tempo and willingness to run at defenders, boasting a 39.1% success fee from 138 take-ons final season. Hojlund’s arrival will permit Rashford to function on the left flank the place he may be simpler working at full-backs.
One space of play the place Hojlund is anticipated to assist United considerably is his means to carry the ball up.
The emergency mortgage of Wout Weghorst final season was meant to supply Ten Hag somebody with an analogous skillset whereas additionally urgent from the entrance and profitable aerial duels, however the Dutchman’s affect was restricted.
While you examine these gamers’ profitable aerial duel share, Hojlund comes out on prime, albeit solely narrowly above Martial. Rashford received simply 33.3% of his aerial duels final time period, whereas Hojlund and Martial boasted 37.1% and 37% success charges respectively. It is clear each the standard centre-forwards are extra suited to utilizing their physicality and competing with centre-backs, one thing Hojlund might want to do within the Premier League to achieve success.
Nevertheless, there’s not a lot use in having a bodily quantity 9 who can not do something productive when the ball arrives at his ft. Hojlund does have the bottom cross accuracy of the three attackers final season, with simply 73.1% of his passes discovering a goal. In the meantime, Rashford and Martial had 76.7% and 80.2% accuracy respectively, displaying their technical superiority.
Whereas Hojlund is a very intelligent and aggressive striker who will seemingly do nice issues for Ten Hag and his system, he’s not an unbelievable improve on what United already possess at this second in time. Nevertheless, when you think about that Rashford is extra productive on the left wing and that Martial’s health can’t be trusted, it turns into much more obvious why United are so determined for reinforcements up prime.
Hojlund’s age should even be taken in consideration. He is solely 20-years-old, 5 years youthful than Rashford and 7 years youthful than Martial.
It is evident that United are taking part in for a ahead with large potential, a undertaking participant that Ten Hag can mould into his splendid striker. The truth that he’s already producing aggressive numbers when in comparison with United’s present attacking choices highlights his maturity and intelligence on the sector at such a young age.
Having been in comparison with Erling Haaland prior to now by his coach Gian Piero Gasperini, United supporters shall be hoping he can ultimately compete with the Norwegian and put the membership again on the prime of the tree.
If he arrives at Outdated Trafford, all eyes shall be on him, and there shall be nowhere to cover.
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