Man Utd transfer target ‘keen’ on summer move as £52m bid submitted

As Manchester United secure a deal for a second summer signing, in Andre Onana, the club have already turned their attention to the next transfer target.

The Red Devils had identified the recruitment of a striker as the priority ahead of the window, but the availability of Mason Mount and the evolving goalkeeper situation altered that thinking in the early weeks of the market. Now, United have refocused their efforts on bringing in a no.9.

The new arrival will not be Harry Kane, despite the club’s long-standing interest in the Tottenham Hotspur centre-forward. Erik ten Hag is still a huge fan of the England skipper but a move is off the table due to Spurs’ unwillingness to negotiate with a Premier League rival.

Meanwhile, the Times claim Kane will not sign a new contract at Tottenham and with his current deal set to expire in June next year, the striker could walk away for free at the end of the 2023/24 season. Bayern Munich are interested in completing a transfer this summer, the outlet adds, and the German champions have already seen a £68.5m bid rejected, with Spurs holding out for a fee closer to £100m.

With Kane out of the picture, United have identified Rasmus Hojlund as their primary target. Agreeing personal terms with the Atalanta centre-forward is not thought to be an issue, and now it’s just a case of the clubs agreeing a price with the Serie A club.

As per Italian football journalist Alfredo Pedulla, United will make an opening offer of £52m plus bonuses for the 20-year-old. However, Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is hoping for a bigger transfer fee and said he player could be worth as much as €100m (£87m).

“I hope the club will value Hojlund around €80m, €90m or €100m fee,” he told Sky Sports Italia. “There are strong players who struggle to find a place and other young players who reach certain figures, Hojlund is among the very best emerging players in Europe.

“If he stays? I don’t know, honestly I don’t know, the transfer market is unpredictable. I don’t know the value of the player, he can be worth even €100 million, but the market value is uncertain."