Rasmus Hojlund Races Toward Manchester United Exit as Two Clubs Battle for His Signature
AC Milan are intensifying their pursuit of Manchester United outcast Rasmus Højlund amid growing competition from Serie A competitors Napoli, according to recent reports.
The Danish striker has been pushed towards an Old Trafford departure throughout the summer transfer window. While consistently expressing his commitment to remain and compete for his position, Ruben Amorim has provided no guarantees about his future. Milan have publicly acknowledged their interest in Højlund, who appears to be finally understanding the clear signals being sent by United regarding his status.
A move back to Serie A seems to be the 22-year-old's most probable departure option. Højlund's previous club Atalanta are among the newest teams linked with the struggling striker, while Napoli are believed to have renewed their pursuit following Romelu Lukaku's significant muscle injury that has sidelined their primary forward.
Milan hold the advantage in negotiations, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. United and Milan are reportedly aligning on conditions for a loan arrangement that includes a mandatory purchase clause activated upon meeting specific requirements. A fee of €40 million (£34.5 million, $46.6 million) has been discussed.
Contrary to some conflicting reports, Højlund remains Milan's primary target. Juventus' unsettled forward Dušan Vlahović has been identified as the backup option should the Danish player refuse to move.
Højlund's most successful period in his young professional career occurred during his time in Italian football with Atalanta. In early 2023, the energetic striker netted nine goals across 13 matches for both club and national team, leading to bold comparisons with Manchester City's prolific goalscorer Erling Haaland.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini added to the excitement when he praised: "He possesses very comparable qualities to Haaland. He is incredibly fast, running under 11 seconds for 100m without maximum effort. Despite his stature, he maintains a low center of gravity. I believe he will enjoy an excellent career, as he continues improving daily."
Højlund has clearly fallen short of those high expectations but might still rediscover his form in the comfortable environment of Serie A.