Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is currently on loan to Napoli for the remainder of the season but his transfer should be made permanent
Rasmus Hojlund has suffered a goal drought at Napoli since his summer switch from Manchester United(Image: Ciro De Luca/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rasmus Hojlund’s exit from Manchester United in the summer transfer window was inevitable. There was concern about his second season at Old Trafford even before Benjamin Sesko was brought in to provide competition at centre-forward for Ruben Amorim’s men.
The Dane scored a mere four goals in 32 Premier League appearances and while his overall statistics were boosted by six goals in the Europa League, he was still down on where he was for United in his debut campaign. When Sesko eventually arrived, it was clear the Slovenian was being groomed to be the first choice and Hojlund would have to settle for being a back-up.
In a World Cup year, this was never going to be something which Hojlund entertained. He knew he needed to be playing regularly and while AC Milan were willing to offer him those minutes, the striker wanted to choose a more permanent solution.
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Hence why his move to Napoli was agreed. While Hojlund only joined Antonio Conte’s side on a loan deal, the options to make it permanent are very likely to be reached, so agreeing to a temporary switch was never going to be a major problem for the striker.
The transfer made sense for all involved, particularly as Hojlund was already proven in Serie A and had only gained valuable experience of the Premier League during his time at United. He started well too having scored four goals by the start of October – not spectacular but a steady start to life in Naples.
However, since his last goal on October 5 vs Genoa, Hojlund has not scored for his domestic team. He was injured for two Serie A matches which halted his momentum but the Dane now finds himself struggling to find the back of the net.
From a United perspective, this answers any lingering concerns they had about agreeing Hojlund’s exit.
When Sesko pulled up injured against Tottenham Hotspur to pause what has been a slow start in front of goal for the striker, many wondered if it had been the right call to allow Hojlund to leave.
The Reds have been left without a striker to lead the line in the Slovenian’s absence. While Joshua Zirkzee scored against Crystal Palace on Sunday in only his second start of the campaign, United still felt lacking in the forward areas.
Joshua Zirkzee scored at Palace last weekend(Image: Jean-Philippe Mateta)
Having Hojlund still at the club to make up the numbers was not the solution, though. The Dane is still a raw talent who could become good in the future, undoubtedly.
But for the here and now, he is not the player which United need. Hojlund is someone who deserves to have a more experienced striker alongside him who can ease the pressure off him or be the main man for a team floating around the Europa League or Conference League level.
Since Erling Haaland’s incredible start to his career, there has been a push to find another centre-forward who can fit the exact same profile. The truth is, he is the exception rather than the rule and if Hojlund was back in the United set-up now, he would not be the fit which Amorim needs.
Does this mean United don’t need to add a striker to their squad? No, of course not. They are crying out for more options in the No.9 role but the answer comes from a more experienced head and not from a player like Sesko who is still learning his trade at the highest level.
