Denmark prodigy Rasmus Hojlund has already been dubbed as the 'next Erling Haaland ' - and transfer interest in the Atalanta striker has intensified after his remarkable five-goal haul during the international break.
The 20-year-old forward caught the eye in both of Denmark's Euro 2024 qualifiers and looks set to become a permanent fixture in Kasper Hjulmand's squad after impressing in Serie A for Atalanta this term.
Hojlund may have only been snapped up the Italian outfit back in the summer, but he's already firmly on the radar of several European heavyweights - including Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
According to Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet, via Sport Witness, the Red Devils have a 'concrete interest' in Hojlund and are keeping tabs on him ahead of the summer, where they are expected to sign a new No.9.
And although more established names such as Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have been touted as two of Erik ten Hag's top targets, the Dutchman will be more than aware of the young forward whose stature and pace have been likened to that of Manchester City's record-breaking goal machine.
Fresh reports this week have claimed that Hojlund is expected to sign with a new agency in the near future as interest in his services continue to mount - an indicator that the young forward could soon be on the move.
And while competition for Hojlund's signature is expected to be fierce, United may already have the edge on their rivals - as the youngster has already admitted that he is a "huge" Red Devils fan.
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Speaking back in January, Hojlund revealed: “ Now that you ask, I will not hide the fact that I am a huge Manchester United fan. So personally, it would be one of the biggest things for me, but of course, that doesn’t mean that I would turn down other big clubs if the offers come at some point.”
The talented striker spent just six months with Austrian outfit Sturm Graz before he was snapped up for €17million (£14.9m) by Atalanta, where he has plundered 14 goals in 33 appearances this term. It is now believed that the Serie A side would demand around double that sum to do business next summer.
That price would not be too rich for Manchester United or Arsenal, who sent scouts to monitor Hojlund last month. Spanish giants Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in Hojlund - although it seems luring the real Haaland to the Bernabeu is their more pressing priority right now.
Speaking earlier this season, Atalanta sporting director Tony D'Amico outlined: “ More than a gamble, Hojlund is a great investment that the club very much wants. Few players from 2003 have this amount of playing time in Italy. He has great room for improvement and, with [Gian Piero] Gasperini, he can become very strong.”
