Manchester United are close to signing the next Haaland at Old Trafford
HE is young, blond, tall, strong, fast, Scandinavian and a striker with a deadly left foot. Even their surnames are similar.
Comparisons between Rasmus Hojlund and Erling Haaland were inevitable as Manchester United made Hojlund their main target.
United are in talks to sign him from Atalanta, who are using the Haaland link to demand £86million.
Even the manager of the Italian club Gian Piero Gasperini made the comparison when referring to the qualities of his player. United are reluctant to spend more than £60m on the Dane after signing Andre Onana for £43m and Mason Mount for £55m.
But while it’s too early to label Hojlund as ‘Haaland 2.0’, he has huge potential, so here are the areas where the 20-year-old from Copenhagen could perhaps be compared to City’s super striker.
EXPECT GOAL, SPEED AND POWER
First the story of him. Hojlund cost £15m when Atalanta signed him last summer and has scored nine goals in 32 Serie A appearances. Before that, Sturm Graz paid 1.5 million pounds sterling for him and scored nine goals in 18 Austrian Bundesliga games. Previously, he played for Copenhagen, where he did not score in 19 Danish Superliga games, even if he started only two.
Since then, this has been a constant increase to become the United attacker who sees someone with the pace and the power to shorten him in the Premier League.
Take a look at Sturm’s goal against Salzburg when he made the last defender before emphasizing, or when he hired the after-the-cits to close the Lecce goalkeeper and knock in Atalanta.
Take a look at the YouTube compilations of him to prevent the defenders, including the target for Atalanta against Spezia when he used his strength and skills to turn and mark.
HE LOVES A TAP IN
One of Hojlund’s biggest strengths is getting into areas where, like Haaland, he can score easy goals.
One example stands out. When Atalanta scored their second goal against Lazio last season, it started with Ademola Lookman countering on the left wing. Hojlund sprinted from the center before getting between two defenders to slip in and score. It sounded easy, but it was a product of his desire to get into that position. It wasn’t a fluke. He scored similar tap-ins for Atalanta against Monza, home and away.
With wingers like Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony feeding him, Hojlund was able to add to his tally by getting into the box with the ends of their balls.
THREAT IN THE MIDDLE
Haaland is not drifting far. He leaves that to the wingers who can give him chances. He knows he is at his best when he stays central.
Hojlund’s touch maps show he is the same. Only two other Serie A players had more touches per 90 minutes in the penalty area last season. Atalanta can adapt their system match by match, but Hojlund does not change position, as he realizes that his best chance to score is to stay in that area.
Although the central areas are often overcrowded, Hojlund gets by on its own. He has quick feet for a six foot forward and while there is room for improvement, he is adept at hooking. The back heel is especially favored when playing one-two.
NUMBERS GAME
This is where Hojlund and Haaland differ.
Haaland is a striker with extraordinary stats. He scored one goal every 77 minutes in the Premier League last season, while Hojlund averaged one goal every 204 in Serie A. Admittedly, being the finalist for the English champions gives you more opportunities than the man who led the team that finished fifth in Italy.
United might argue that Hojlund’s play is unpredictable, as although he is a left footed he is much more open to using his right hand than Haaland. Hojlund’s weaker foot accounted for a quarter of his shots for Atalanta last season.
Those close to Hojlund describe him as confidently having the ‘total package’.
United see the potential but will now have to strike a deal with Atalanta if we are to see him try his luck in the Premier League and if he can even come close to Haaland’s stellar debut season.
