'Timid' - Manchester United loanee 'struggling to make an impact' amid fresh transfer uncertainty
Man Utd agreed to let the star leave on loan in the summer transfer window.
It is not long since Manchester United looked guaranteed to receive a sizeable transfer fee for the sale of Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli next year.
The 22-year-old started bright at his new loan club with four goals across his first six appearances, but has since gone three games without a goal after he returned from a minor injury setback.
It was claimed Napoli could exercise their obligation to purchase him for €44 million earlier than required, such was their faith in him. However, that might not be so certain after his recent drop in form.
The Serie A club paid an initial €6m loan fee on Hojlund and will have to make the deal permanent next summer if they qualify for the Champions League and if he plays in enough matches.
A report stated Napoli were keen to trigger their option before the end of the year, in what would have been a timely transfer boost ahead of the January window, but for that to happen, he will need to find his scoring boots again.
Rasmus Hojlund criticised by Italian press
Rasmus Hojlund has not scored in three matches for Napoli and was criticised for his tame performance in their goalless draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek.
The Danish striker played the entirety of the match on Tuesday night as Napoli's poor start to the Champions League continued. They currently sit 24th in the table after defeats to Man City and PSV and a victory over Sporting.
Hojlund was handed a 5/10 player rating from Corriere dello Sport, who wrote: "This time in Europe, where he excels, he doesn’t repeat himself. He has a good chance at the start of the match, but shoots at Zetterer. He’s also timid at the end.”
The report added: "Hojlund, inevitably, finds himself at the centre of the debate: the Dane, who had dazzled on his return to Italy, who had forcefully knocked on the door of Europe with a brace against Sporting Lisbon, is now struggling to make an impact.”
Romano expected Napoli to sign Hojlund very soon
Rasmus Hojlund was frozen out at Manchester United after the summer signing of Benjamin Sesko and deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Ruben Amorim. He had featured for United in pre-season but was omitted from the squads against Arsenal, Fulham and Grimsby before he joined Napoli on an initial loan.
United paid £64 million to sign Hojlund from Atalanta only two years ago but will avoid a loss on Hojlund under the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) if the transfer obligation is met.
It would be a huge boost for United's finances and notorious transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano recently claimed the clause could be triggered soon.
“I don’t think Rasmus Hojlund will go back to Manchester United," he told the Here We Go podcast last month. "My feeling is very clear. Rasmus Hojlund, well, now he’s injured, he’s been injured for the last few games, but, as you mentioned, he started very well in Serie A and Champions League with Napoli.
“And the expectation of all parties involved, players, agents, clubs, both Napoli and United, is for the €44 million buy option clause to be triggered this month. So very soon, very, very soon, in the next month, let’s say like this, because there is an obligation to buy element included in the agreement, and this could be triggered quite soon.”