Rasmus Hojlund: Is he the answer for Manchester United?

• Rasmus Winther Hojlund, a 20-year-old striker for Atalanta, is one player who is on the Manchester United transfer wishlist.
• Manchester United has few choices this summer, like many other teams looking for strikers.
• We look at Rasmus Holjund’s traits and how he will be a perfect signing for United.

Manchester United has few choices this summer, like many other teams looking for strikers. The majority of truly elite hitting alternatives are confined to their own clubs, making them scarce and dispersed.

Harry Kane may be available, but given his age (30), extensive history of ankle issues, and worth of about 100 million pounds, a transfer to Old Trafford might not happen.

Rasmus Winther Hojlund, a 20-year-old striker for Atalanta, is one player who appears to have potential in his career.

We look at Rasmus Holjund’s traits and how he will be a perfect signing for United.

Athleticism

Rasmus Højlund is on Manchester United’s target list. Photo/Sporting News

Hjlund stands out because, even at a young age, he exhibits deft athleticism and shrewd movement that will provide him continuous access to high-caliber goal-scoring opportunities. Of course, it is difficult to train for the physical qualities. The extent to which a player may develop their physical makeup, acceleration, and overall athleticism is strictly constrained.

In terms of his potential, Hjlund already outperforms many other young prospects because of his athleticism. Videos of his explosive acceleration, in which he runs past opposition defenses in transition thanks to his speed and strength, are widely shared on social media.

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Although it seems contested that the Dane would ever reach the legendary heights of Erling Haaland, there is something startling about his furious pace. He can protect the ball well when connecting plays or moving them forward thanks to his powerful physical presence, which also enables him to ride challenges. He can also maneuver his body to ensure that he can still produce power from his shots while taking shots from awkward positions. Hjlund is not just endowed with physical advantages; he also understands how to make the most of them.

Numerous runs per game

On the other hand, it also indicates a great intensity to his playing style that few players can match. A striker may find it difficult to continue such runs for the length of 90 minutes, both psychologically and physically exhausting when they don’t get the ball. Hojlund, though, manages to make it work.

The youthful attacker is able to make his runs into favorable places in addition to volume. He angles his runs well, making sure he can drift away from opponents to build momentum before he reaches the ball while attacking in transition or when a defensive line is pushed a little higher. He moves more quickly and incisively in the box, utilizing his exceptional quickness to dribble right in front of defenders. Again, his physical characteristics help him to make the most of this: his runs are so quick and strong that it’s quite difficult for opponents to stop him from getting into ideal shooting situations.

Good decision making

Rasmus Højlund. Photo/Goal

Hjlund demonstrates amazing judgment for a young player by understanding when to shoot and when not to. He mainly takes shots from inside the penalty area; he seldom ever shoots from outside the box. Although clearly skilled enough to pose a danger beyond the area, his ball striking is solid without being particularly noteworthy, and he is patient when it comes to waiting for the proper moment to strike. His non-penalty xg/shot of 0.17, which places him in the 80th percentile, is encouraging for his potential to score the most goals from the few shots he does take.

The Dane is at ease while distributing from the right-half area, where he can cut to his left foot, which is stronger, and float or drive through balls. Although a little inconsistent, his performance seems fairly impressive from these angles. His greatest passes frequently occur during the transition, when he has greater room and a large number of forward runners. He is somewhat confident with his passing, but considerably less ambitious, when up against a more seasoned defense or when required to receive the ball in other places. Additionally, he seldom drifts genuinely wide to switch positions with a winger or wide attacker, choosing instead to stay in the middle channel or the half gaps.

Hjlund is a decent passer but a far better ball carrier. He doesn’t like to isolate a defender who is in firm control and try to fool them with a variety of gimmicks and feints. Instead, he excels while carrying in transition, when he can bulldoze past defenses with his power and speed.