Rasmus Højlund | Signed for United

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Redcy said:
Are there ? So why are at least a dozen major European clubs not buying them? Literally loads of clubs seeking a striker, surely not all those clubs have a shambles of a scouting team?
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Inter and Juve were literally reported to have been dreaming of signing him yesterday. Madrid have been linked with him not two months ago.
 
Redcy said:
Are there ? So why are at least a dozen major European clubs not buying them? Literally loads of clubs seeking a striker, surely not all those clubs have a shambles of a scouting team?
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This summer Chelsea bought Nicolas Jackson for 30m euro, RBL just bought Lois Openda for 45m euro, Barca just bought Vitor Roque for 40m euro plus bonuses, Inter and Milan both seem to be going hard for Folarin Balogun in the 40-50m range, PSG seems to be buying Vlahovic, Bayern will reportedly go for Muani if they can't get Kane. There are still players like Wahi (personal issues aside) and Ramos out there.

It's not like there are no other young strikers on the move this summer, United just seems to have focused on Hojlund.

CG1010 said:
This is such a weird argument to make honestly. A flat track bully would do extremely nicely for us. We can always switch to a counter attacking game against strong opposition, with Rashford & Bruno leading the charge. This team is actually quite decent at that actually. What we really lack is a sword that can consistently slay the weaker teams.
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Yeah, scoring against weaker teams is essential. But only a handful of PL clubs have defenders as poor (at least on an individual level) as the bottom half of Serie A. Some of these sides play very defensively so they still don't concede buckets but the talent level is really low in the bottom half of that league. Being a flat track bully in Serie A does not necessarily mean you can be a flat track bully in the PL.

I wouldn't hold this too much against Hojlund, its going to be the case for most young strikers that are relatively raw and not talented on some otherworldly level. They get exposed by better, more experienced defenders and part of progressing as a player is learning how to adjust and find solutions when coming up against better players.
 
mav_9me said:
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There's a lot to like about this kid. The face value level stats aren't perfect but I think the underlying implication here is he could burst into life as a top no.9.
 
Redcy said:
It’s interesting people want to say there are loads of strikers, but can’t name any as they aren’t scouts
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And how that would and? Everyone who watch football can name randomly 30 strikers in every moment. And then what? You will say; that one is slow, that one is old, that one is expensive, that one is shit etc....
 
Abraxas said:
Some of the takes here make very little sense. To not be particularly enthused by the signing because we were hoping for a top striker is one thing. I think we have all been hoping for an established, top class 9 in their prime as we have lacked that for so long. So I get that frustration. Hojlund is not that and probably won't develop into that for quite a number of seasons. As people like to say, he is a project - but one we hope can contribute in the short term. There is no world where it can be guaranteed that Hojlund is a major contributor next season. I think the conservative guess would be that he'll offer something Weghorst and an injured Martial can't but beyond that who knows.

But the arguments put forward around the negative aspects of this signing are pretty weak when you actually get into the detail and context of it.

For example, it's too much and we should go for someone else. So who are these various other strikers that are a) more appealing and b) better value? You can go cheap and get what you pay for on some journeyman or totally unheard of prospect, or you can go big and throw your name into an Osimhen hat, but if the budget isn't there it isn't there to do that. There is no "established, cheap" market for a striker. There just ain't. So what I want to know is who are the strikers that fit into our reported budget that people will advocate for ahead of Hojlund? That's a far more useful discussion than simply moaning about price because it frames the discussion within the parameters the club actually works within. Not vague feelings.

On price. Why is it such poor value according to some? He's just turned 20, had a promising season in a major league and scored a goal a game for his national team. It's not like he has been playing in the Latvian league. What are we really expecting to get a player like that for? Buttons? I think the fact Atalanta unearthed him and took the initial risk should be rewarded. That's the way it works in football. Those that go for unheralded players end up making a huge profit if they work, but they'll sign 5 or 6 others that don't ever make it to top clubs and several that are complete duds. Is he being priced like a major superstar? No he's not, they're starting at 70 million euros probably with a view to sealing a deal around 55-60million euros, which is not a fee for a 20 year old that is considered an elite talent in Europe. If Hojlund comes to United and scores 15 league goals, he's probably adding a third to that valuation immediately. So that tells me this fee is very much in the ballpark and gives room for it to go either way, it is not a premium valuation. If he scores 10 league goals in the next couple seasons he is probably not going to be a loss maker for us, and if he becomes what ETH would envisage then he is a rare breed of 9 and you can put any figure on it.

For me it's quite clear that most aspects of this transfer would be a positive. If we can negotiate it down it fits into the budget. He's young, very talented, great physically which prepares him for our league. The manager has shown he can improve players and he is getting raw ingridients for a 9.
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Get the hell out of here with that logic and reason, we want Kane/Osimen wah wah, mommy I want.
 
Bubz27 said:
Oh my goodness, yeah you're right. I just described exactly what our scouts have done. Weird how I didn't notice that.

The price increase has absolutely nothing to do with the scouts though. So no point ridiculing the scouts here is there. Which is what the post I replied to was doing.
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Sarcasm eh, my old nemeis, we meet again.

Lyng said:
I was being highly sarcastic in that post. I dont think our scouts are doing a bad job.
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See, sarcasm, apparently your nemesis as well @Bubz27
 
Abraxas said:
For example, it's too much and we should go for someone else. So who are these various other strikers that are a) more appealing and b) better value? You can go cheap and get what you pay for on some journeyman or totally unheard of prospect, or you can go big and throw your name into an Osimhen hat, but if the budget isn't there it isn't there to do that. There is no "established, cheap" market for a striker. There just ain't. So what I want to know is who are the strikers that fit into our reported budget that people will advocate for ahead of Hojlund? That's a far more useful discussion than simply moaning about price because it frames the discussion within the parameters the club actually works within. Not vague feelings.
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There's plenty of Calum Wilson, Isak, Gakpo, Jesus, Alvarez type forwards floating about that fit that bill. It's just that we think we're too good for them for some reason.

Sure some of those (Alvarez, Gakpo) are punts but I'm sure one of our resident scouts can throw out more names than that.
 
If Ten Hag says he wants him then he's seen enough potential in him and how he can fit into our team and play style. I remember Haller not being the most lethal striker at West Ham. But when he went to Ajax, Ten Hag turned him into a beast, he was averaging a goal per game and he went on to score 4 goals on his Champions league debut with Ajax. He was the top goal scorer in group stages that year before he left for Dortmund. Besides, Ten Hag hasn't made a bad signing yet. Every player has had a certain effect on the team. Let's trust the manager.
 
mav_9me said:
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If this is the guy ETH, his team and the scouts are saying is the 'young striker' they want then so be it.

We wont be getting an 'experienced' striker this summer ala Kane and the market seems to be thin on the ground for alternatives.

Gotta trust ETH and the team.
 
dinostar77 said:
If this is the guy ETH, his team and the scouts are saying is the 'young striker' they want then so be it.

We wont be getting an 'experienced' striker this summer ala Kane and the market seems to be thin on the ground for alternatives.

Gotta trust ETH and the team.
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We’ve not got to trust them at all.

Hoijlund is an exciting project, but if we sign a prospect from Serie A for £60m there should be questions asked.

Managers often have weaknesses in the transfer window and after the Antony signing, ETH should stick to proven attackers imo, unless it’s a budgetish punt.

60m on this kid will mean he’s spent basically 150m on Antony and Hoijund.

It’s a lot of cash and asking Hoijlund to step up from 1 season in Serie A to leading the line for one of the biggest clubs in World football, is pretty fecking out there.
 
Rhyme Animal said:
We’ve not got to trust them at all.

Hoijlund is an exciting project, but if we sign a prospect from Serie A for £60m there should be questions asked.

Managers often have weaknesses in the transfer window and after the Antony signing, ETH should stick to proven attackers imo, unless it’s a budgetish punt.

60m on this kid will mean he’s spent basically 150m on Antony and Hoijund.

It’s a lot of cash and asking Hoijlund to step up from 1 season in Serie A to leading the line for one of the biggest clubs in World football, is pretty fecking out there.
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I don't think anyone expects him to step up immediately, but we have Rashford and Martial (yeah right) to put pressure off of him. We don't have many alternatives though. It's pointless buying a more experienced striker for £30m only to replace him next season because he's not good enough. Ideal scenario would probably be Højlund and a more experienced striker on loan, for example Ciro Immobile.
 
Rhyme Animal said:
We’ve not got to trust them at all.

Hoijlund is an exciting project, but if we sign a prospect from Serie A for £60m there should be questions asked.

Managers often have weaknesses in the transfer window and after the Antony signing, ETH should stick to proven attackers imo, unless it’s a budgetish punt.

60m on this kid will mean he’s spent basically 150m on Antony and Hoijund.

It’s a lot of cash and asking Hoijlund to step up from 1 season in Serie A to leading the line for one of the biggest clubs in World football, is pretty fecking out there.
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What did we pay for Martial? Add 25/50% to that and that is the price today for a talented striker.

Sometimes you have to take a punt, we can’t afford Kane ( and shouldn’t do it anyway even if we could), he is the one ideal fit except for Hojlund.

I think we should go for Hojlund or Vkahovic. I don’t see anyone coming up with realistic better options.
 
zaafi said:
Why does the £86m keep getting repeated when more credible journalists in Italian transfers say it's around €60m?

€100m+ for Højlund just sounds so made up and unrealistic.
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They’re doing the trick of euros to pound and reversing it.
It’s beyond incompetence at this stage
 
Rhyme Animal said:
We’ve not got to trust them at all.

Hoijlund is an exciting project, but if we sign a prospect from Serie A for £60m there should be questions asked.

Managers often have weaknesses in the transfer window and after the Antony signing, ETH should stick to proven attackers imo, unless it’s a budgetish punt.

60m on this kid will mean he’s spent basically 150m on Antony and Hoijund.

It’s a lot of cash and asking Hoijlund to step up from 1 season in Serie A to leading the line for one of the biggest clubs in World football, is pretty fecking out there.
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So who would you suggest instead in this market with our budget?
 
2 man midfield said:
There’s just no way we’re paying that. He scored 9 goals last season ffs. We’re buying potential, not the finished article. Any more than 45 and we should walk.
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It’s pretty normal to buy potential though isn’t it? That’s kinda what you do with 20 year olds.
 
The only reason I don’t believe that 86million price is because as much as I get down on the club, there’s no way they’d pay that for him and there’s no way they’d sit at the negotiating table for him. Just no way, so why is it constantly reported as this when Fabrizio, Di Marzio and others have constantly said 60-70mill Euro’s it’s really baffling. Are we briefing a higher price to make it look better when we pay less? Can’t wrap my head around it. But also…

 
Pexbo said:
It’s pretty normal to buy potential though isn’t it? That’s kinda what you do with 20 year olds.
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I’ve got no issue with that part - it’s them demanding a fee that doesn’t reflect the fact he’s merely potential. He could turn into the next Franny Jeffers for all we know.
 
L1nk said:
The only reason I don’t believe that 86million price is because as much as I get down on the club, there’s no way they’d pay that for him and there’s no way they’d sit at the negotiating table for him. Just no way, so why is it constantly reported as this when Fabrizio, Di Marzio and others have constantly said 60-70mill Euro’s it’s really baffling. Are we briefing a higher price to make it look better when we pay less? Can’t wrap my head around it. But also…

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Time to loosen our belts?
 
dinostar77 said:
So who would you suggest instead in this market with our budget?
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I don’t know what our budget is.

£60m is being quoted (Ramano) for Hoijlund.

That’s a lot of money for a kid with one Serie A season under his belt.

Firstly, I’d shift some players and then start looking to go all out for a proper, Utd level CF.

If you’re gonna pay big, better to go all out and target the big boys imo.

Failing that, I’d go for a Mitrovic or a Watkins perhaps who we know can hang in the PL and deliver.
 
2 man midfield said:
I’ve got no issue with that part - it’s them demanding a fee that doesn’t reflect the fact he’s merely potential. He could turn into the next Franny Jeffers for all we know.
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I mean, if you look at his abilities such as hold-up play, movement and natural striker instinct for a player of his age, it's likely he'll become at the very least a good striker. Not necessarily world class or close to it, but a good one who we can sell on what we bought him for, or even a profit, if he turns out to not be the striker we need to be a top team.
 
zaafi said:
I mean, if you look at his abilities such as hold-up play, movement and natural striker instinct for a player of his age, it's likely he'll become at the very least a good striker. Not necessarily world class or close to it, but a good one who we can sell on what we bought him for, or even a profit, if he turns out to not be the striker we need to be a top team.
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Just make sure not to put him on outrageous wages ammirite?
 
zaafi said:
Why does the £86m keep getting repeated when more credible journalists in Italian transfers say it's around €60m?

€100m+ for Højlund just sounds so made up and unrealistic.
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€60m is the base fee for Højlund. The Italians are excluding the add-ons when they report that figure (except for Pedullà who reported that fee).

I wouldn't be surprised if the add-ons + solidarity payments + agent fees take the total figure up to €100m.
 
zaafi said:
I mean, if you look at his abilities such as hold-up play, movement and natural striker instinct for a player of his age, it's likely he'll become at the very least a good striker. Not necessarily world class or close to it, but a good one who we can sell on what we bought him for, or even a profit, if he turns out to not be the striker we need to be a top team.
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Yeah but that never happens, we’ll end up holding onto him for 7 years too long, with an undeserved extension halfway through, and he’ll leave on a free when he’s 28 because nobody wants to pay his wages. He could be our first choice number 9, or he could be another Martial. But paying 80 something million to find out is a hell of a risk.
 
2 man midfield said:
Yeah but that never happens, we’ll end up holding onto him for 7 years too long, with an undeserved extension halfway through, and he’ll leave on a free when he’s 28 because nobody wants to pay his wages. He could be our first choice number 9, or he could be another Martial. But paying 80 something million to find out is a hell of a risk.
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Yeah good point :lol: we love holding on to players that clearly aren't good enough
 
A good prospect isn't going to win us the league, if that's the actual ambition then Ten Hag will be needing much more than this kid.
 
Appletonred said:
A good prospect isn't going to win us the league, if that's the actual ambition then Ten Hag will be needing much more than this kid.
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We signed Rooney as a young prospect… he won us plenty of titles. Have faith bud
 
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