What have you seen from Hojlund to give you the impression we need to be looking for a ‘backup’ striker?
A potentially high end finisher and lead the line forward when supplied. Like ANY other top striker of the Halaand ilk. Unlike the select few like Mbappe or Kane who are dribble wizards or can drop deep into midfield to create for themselves whilsr playing with a forwardline that ignores them 80% of the time.
As for Lukaku. He has proven time and again he hates competition, rotation even less. Above all he can't function in a side that hasn't sorted supply issues to the starting striker. Mind you am a fan of his. But his ill suited to this particular United side by far!
Right now of elite starting strikers only Kane, Toney or Osimhen would handle our issue of lack of supply uptop. They are also all out our of our money bracket.
Hojlund needs to be replaced in the first team, and then try to prove that he is good enough to be a United centre forward create himself. It is he who is actually a suitable for a backup United striker right now.
Fair enough.
Personally, I don't buy this at all! What United lack is two strikers who can consistently push each other for a starting spot. THAT is what I consider 'a back up striker".
We currently neither have the status nor the funds to go and sign a bonfafide "ready made starter". Especially anyone at or more than what we signed Hoijlund for given what we desperately need in other areas of this team.
So I'd rather we target players like either Zirkee, Sesko or even Guirharssy. People who can push a Hoijlund to stay on his toes rather than stall his development by benching him.
I'd go as far as to say lacking people who can consistently kept the likes of Rashford on their toes in wide areas killed their development. I'd like us to treat Hoijlund differently. I'd love his position to have the kinda fight for a place Maguire and Varane have had. Even Dalot & AWB.