Man Utd set to ignore scouts after ‘deciding’ next transfer ‘target’ after Andre Onana

Manchester United are already said to be moving on to their next transfer target despite warnings from scouts.

Erik ten Hag is being backed this summer as United look to close the gap to their city rivals Manchester City, with Mason Mount already signing for £60million. Meanwhile, Inter Milan star Andre Onana looks set to join from Inter Milan on a deal worth around £46million, with United replacing David De Gea.

Onana’s arrival will take United’s summer spending above the £100million mark, and they may not be done there, despite the ownership situation remaining in limbo.

While sales will be important this summer, United are said to be swiftly moving on to their next target, which is likely to be Atalanta star Rasmus Hojlund.

Fabrizio Romano has said on his on his YouTube channel: “After Onana, it’s going to be time to focus on the striker. For Rasmus Hojlund, I told you Man United never made an official bid. They want to complete everything on the player side and then to attack the situation with Atalanta with official bids.

“They had some exchanges with Atalanta with the opportunity to offer some players into the deal, Atalanta said only money, something around €70m (£60m), this could be the realistic fee for Rasmus Hojlund. Let’s see when Man United make the opening bid. At the moment, the idea of involving a player is not something Atalanta wants to do. They want real big money.

“Hojlund and Manchester United is absolutely on as a deal, but still not in an advanced stages.”

Hojlund is still only 20 years of age, and he remains unproven at this point, having only been at Atalanta for one year. After scoring nine goals in 18 league appearances at Sturm graz, Hojlund managed nine goals in 32 league appearances for Atalanta in his first season playing in a major league.

While those are respectable numbers, Hojlund doesn’t measure up to the early records set by the likes of Erling Haaland, and scouts have echoed that.

According to The Mirror, one scout said of the Dane: “He’s still unproven and the Premier League is a very unforgiving place especially if you’re in a Manchester United shirt. He’s left-footed, strong and powerful so inevitably there will be some comparisons with [Erling] Haaland but he’s not in his league. Haaland is a generational talent. Hojlund’s stats don’t come anywhere near Haaland and his finishing can be erratic.”

Another scout is said to have added: “He’s no Haaland. It’s strange too that he’s mentioned alongside Harry Kane as a possible United target - they are worlds apart.”

Hojlund may be a risky move for United at this stage, but unable to afford the likes of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, the Red Devils may need to take a chance and hope their intuition on the young striker proves right.