Arrived in Manchester United in the summer of 2023 from the Atalanta against an amount of around 75 million euros including bonus, Rasmus Højlund has never fully justified the hopes placed in him. Despite some lightnings in the Champions League and a series of goals at the beginning of 2024, the Danish striker had an irregular first season, punctuated by injuries, a lack of regularity and a Mancunian collective in great difficulty. At just 22 years old, he was often delivered to himself on the attack front and struggled to weigh on the opposing defenses, especially in the Premier League where the intensity and physical density posed him problem despite correct stats (95 games, 26 goals).
With the arrival of Rúben Amorim on the bench during the season after the eviction of Erik Ten Hag, the situation of Højlund has not necessarily improved. The Portuguese technician does not seem to make Danish a central element of his game project. From the first training and matches, Joshua Zirkzee scored points and today seems to have a head start in the offensive hierarchy, even if his place is not guaranteed either. And competition could still tighten: Manchester United continues to scrutinize the market to recruit a new center forward, with Randal Kolo Muani and Viktor Gyökeres among the actively studied tracks. If one of the two came to sign, Højlund would still see his playing time reduced, thus reinforcing his desire to relaunch elsewhere.
Italy on the lookout!
According to our information, Rasmus Højlund is looking for more than ever an exit door on the transfer window. In search of a new challenge, the Danish striker no longer completely seems to be entering the plans of Manchester United, despite a contrasting first season. If the interest of Juventus is of public notoriety, the Bianconeri have not made real approaches at the moment. In addition, Lazio Rome recently checked its name on its offensive short-list. Maurizio Sarri, freshly named at the head of the Roman club, greatly appreciates the profile of the former Atalanta scorer, which he considers a serious option to strengthen his offensive sector. However, according to our indiscretions, no formal contact has yet been established between the different parties. For its part, the Atalanta has a very attentive eye on the situation. The Bergamo club, which recently lost Mateo Retagui and could see Ademola Lookman leaving in the coming weeks, is very seriously considering to repatriate his Danish nugget, whose integration into the system of Ivan Juric would be immediate, taking into account the similarities with the system of Gian Piero Gasperini in which Højlund exploded in his first visit to Bergame.
But the feasibility of the operation remains complex. The main obstacle is at the level of the player's salary, deemed too high for Italian standards. A planned outcome would be a loan with option to buy, accompanied by substantial care of salary by Manchester United. However, this type of deal, often heavy to negotiate between Clubs of Premier League and Serie A, is never easy to tie. Especially since on the Mancunian side, we seem to prioritize a loan in England, in line with the success of Marcus Rashford during his visit to Aston Villa. A scenario that could rebound the cards and push a transalpine outcome, unless a favorable financial agreement emerges in the coming days. Despite this delicate passage, Højlund remains a raw talent with high potential. At only 22 years old, his profile continues to attract many clubs to Europe, proof that the flame is not extinguished – it now needs the right frame to revive.
