What do you do when your bitter cross-city rival builds its staff round a Scandinavian marvel striker? You discover one on your personal.
The goal-scoring heroics of Erling Haaland propelled Manchester City to an era-defining continental treble. Now, Manchester United is circling a participant comparable in title and profile – Rasmus Hojland.
Hojlund, 20, at present tied to Serie A membership Atalanta, has been earmarked by United boss Erik Ten Hag to resolve his facet’s scoring troubles. Take away an absurd streak of objectives from Marcus Rashford, United discovered it onerous to search out the again of the online final season.
In the Premier League, the Red Devils had an anticipated purpose (xG) tally of 67.7 however might rating solely 58 objectives. They had been the third-worst staff within the league by way of underperforming their xG, behind Chelsea and Everton.
READ | Hojlund the hat-trick hero as Denmark beats Finland 3-1
United, in an act of desperation, had roped in Dutch striker Wout Weghorst on mortgage, through the winter switch window. But the quick-fix answer didn’t work out as Weghorst contributed only a purpose within the Premier League throughout his spell with the staff.
Hojlund, alternatively, is a way more long-term answer and supplies Ten Hag with a extra rounded match for his facet which he’s slowly moulding into his imaginative and prescient.
For Atalanta final season, the Danish striker scored 10 objectives – 9 in Serie A – and offered two assists. Hojlund had xG/90 of 0.47 within the league, which is barely simply behind Rashford’s figures of 0.49 within the Premier League.
Hojlund’s most eye-catching performances of the season have include Denmark. The pacy attacker scored 5 objectives in three days for his nationwide staff within the Euro Qualifiers, together with a hat-trick in opposition to Finland.
Against his Scandinavian opponent, Hojlund displayed his goal-poaching instincts, scoring all three of his objectives from contained in the six-yard field.
But it could be reductive to earmark Hojlund as only a fox-in-the-box. The 6’3” striker supplies a relentless outlet within the closing third and is adept at accumulating the ball beneath strain from opponents. Hojlund ranks within the 99th percentile in relation to progressive passes acquired within the prime 5 leagues in 2022/23.
With United about to announce goalkeeper Andre Onana, who’s famend for his capacity on the ball, Hojlund’s reception expertise will present Ten Hag with an added edge in relation to build-up play.
The left-footed striker can also be nimble along with his passing, usually linking efficiently along with his teammates, significantly properly throughout turnovers. United is a facet that thrives in transition from defence to offence, with the facet main the league for direct assaults. Hojlund can also be unafraid of taking up defenders, usually utilizing his energy and tempo to good impact.
Hojlund’s robust link-up play and his desire for sticking to central zones throughout assaults may also permit Rashford to maneuver again to his favored left-sided function. The England ahead had taken up the mantle as United’s main central attacker over the past marketing campaign.
Hojlund will inevitably be in contrast in opposition to Haaland if he switches to the pink facet of Manchester. But, because the numbers recommend, Hojlund would add high quality and edge to the quantity 9 function for United, which has lacked a worthy occupier ever since Robin van Persie left Old Trafford.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com