Romano transfer hint gives Man Utd solution to Hojlund and striker problem

Manchester United could face interest from Italian sides for Rasmus Hojlund this summer, with one prospective deal potentially proving to be a ready-made solution for all parties involved.

Hojlund has struggled to convince Ruben Amorim of his credentials as a striker in the United boss’ system, having netted just three Premier League goals in 26 appearances this season.

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United are desperate to sign a new striker and have outlined Ipswich’s Liam Delap as one of their top targets but there is still a desire to bring in a more experienced goalscorer able to provide competition and depth up front.

However, United’s limited spending power may see them struggle to afford another big money signing such as Matheus Cunha, who has a €72 million release clause in his contract at Wolves.

Any additional forward will likely require Hojlund’s departure, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Serie A clubs are ‘ready’ to start ‘concrete’ negotiations for the 22-year-old.

But with United looking to recoup as much of the €74m spent on Hojlund in 2023 as possible, any permanent exit for the Dane could prove difficult outside of one curious option.

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Why Juventus could be United’s answer for Hojlund

Above all Italian sides, Juventus are understood to have held the longest-standing interest in Hojlund, with Relevo claiming that talks have begun to see if a move for the United youngster is possible this summer.

Juve are looking for a new striker themselves, with Dusan Vlahovic likely to be sold as the he enters the final year of his contract, and the Serbian may emerge as a shrewd option to replace Hojlund at Old Trafford.

Vlahovic has netted just nine times in Serie A this season but the 25-year-old has proven his ability throughout his career as a striker capable of scoring goals and leading the line at a high level.

With Juve desperate to avoid Vlahovic leaving on a free next summer, the Italian giants may be willing to broker a swap deal for Hojlund, allowing them afford to sign the United man and also getting value out of their departing star.

For United, Vlahovic could offer a more experienced alternative to ease the pressure on Delap, assuming the 22-year-old is the club’s chosen target, all at a minimal cost and while parting ways with Hojlund, who does not seem destined to thrive at Old Trafford.

Napoli are also said to be interested and a similar swap deal could be mooted for Victor Osimhen but it would still cost United a significant sum, with the Italian side also more keen on Alejandro Garnacho rather than Hojlund.

Ultimately United will likely have to get creative to avoid another ‘loan-with-option’ transfer that solves no issues for them in the long-term if they wish to get the most value out of a deal for Hojlund.