Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund stance shows Manchester United shouldn’t give up on Harry Kane

When Erik ten Hag sat down to plan his perfect summer transfer window, his Manchester United attack would have featured a proven Premier League goalscorer such as Harry Kane and a younger forward ready to develop, like Rasmus Hojlund.

But within a week of the transfer window opening it looks like United’s chances of landing Kane are already over and they are being held to ransom over a deal for 20-year-old Hojlund. United would have expected to pay £86million to sign Kane, not a 20-year-old still learning his game.

It is a sign of the modern transfer market and the lack of strikers available that Atalanta have felt emboldened enough to put a €100million price tag on a forward who scored nine goals in 32 Serie A games this season. Hojlund looks like a talent, but he’s not ready to be leading the line for United.

That price is the beginning of a negotiation, of course, but it’s double what United might have felt was an acceptable fee for the forward. In a summer when they need to make their budget stretch, signing two strikers is already beginning to look difficult and at those figures quoted Atalanta would have to drop their asking price considerably.

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But where else do United turn this summer? Victor Osimhen would cost well over €100million if Napoli were to let him leave. Randal Kolo Muani looks talented but is valued at €80-100million by Eintracht Frankfurt. The likes of Kolo Muani and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos are by no means guaranteed to thrive in the Premier League.

Domestically, there are few options and all of them will be expensive. United have been linked with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who would be stepping up considerably at Old Trafford. Brentford