Man Utd are reluctant to spend more than £51.5million on a 20-year-old keen on a move to Old Trafford; The clubs are working on a fee compromise, with Atalanta valuing the player at over £60.1m; PSG’s £43m offer unlikely to affect Man Utd
Sky Sports News has been informed that a deal between Atalanta and Manchester United for striker Rasmus Hojlund is getting closer.
The clubs are working on a transfer fee compromise, with Atalanta estimating the player’s value at €70m (£60.1m) plus performance-related surcharges.
United remain hopeful a deal for Hojlund can be finalized well before the new season but have other options if a move does not materialise.
The Premier League side received a boost on Saturday when Atalanta signed Almeria striker El Bilal Toure while Hojlund was left out of the squad to face Bournemouth in a pre-season friendly .
Personal links between United and Hojlund are not an issue, although there is still a valuation gap between the clubs. United are aware of PSG’s interest in Hojlund – the French champions offered €50m (£43m) earlier this week – but feel encouraged by his desire to move to Old Trafford.
United are unfazed by other clubs’ interest in the player, as they have shown with the signings of Mason Mount and Andre Onana that they will not exceed their maximum budget for a player this summer.
United have been reluctant to go beyond a £51m (€60m) package due to Financial Fair Play constraints and a determination to stick to their price tag.
However, following Amad Diallo’s negotiations in January 2021, they have a good relationship with the Serie A side and are in constant contact with their colleagues over a compromise on the transfer fee for Hojlund.
The two clubs are trying to reach an agreement. United are aware that Hojlund has more potential than the finished article, but believe training Erik ten Hag could help him become an elite player.
It is understood that if the Denmark international is signed, Marcus Rashford may have to play a few games as United’s No.9 while Hojlund adjusts and gains experience.
United reportedly don’t need to sell to buy Hojlund and are banking on decent sales this summer and the January window to meet the necessary financial parameters.
Although confident of a deal, the club are also in parallel talks over Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani as an alternative option.
United have also worked hard on Ajax’s versatile Mohammed Kudus, plus at least one more target as they don’t want the saga to drag on or be left behind in attack at the start of the season. PSG, meanwhile, are keen to sign a striker and believe they are “able” to sign Harry Kane this summer should Tottenham decide to sell the England captain.
