Gary Neville's Rasmus Hojlund verdict shows Manchester United true stance on Real Madrid transfer

Manchester United would have every right to feel a little smug about Rasmus Hojlund right now. But the Premier League giants should not be too worried about the mighty Real Madrid swooping in for his signature.

Erik ten Hag and key figures responsible for transfers at Old Trafford raised more than one or two eyebrows when snapping-up Hojlund from Atalanta last summer. They haven't always got things right in that department since the former Ajax manager touched down - yet in the Denmark prospect they might have cracked it - so much so that the 21-year-old is reportedly already drawing interest from the Santiago Bernabeu, according to Spanish outlet Defensa Central.

United knew what they had with Hojlund. However, the hefty price tag made him an easy target for rival fans and was repeatedly thrown at him as he went 15 matches without opening his Premier League account.

ALSO READ: United delaying contract decisions amid INEOS investment

ALSO READ: Unsung hero vs Villa decided the game in just three touches

It's now five in five for Hojlund as competitors - domestically and in Europe - finally start to take notice.

"Manchester United have not had a striker they can hit," said ex-United man Gary Neville after Hojlund's belated Premier League debut against Arsenal in September. "[Cristiano] Ronaldo was not a classic target-man, [Anthony] Martial and [Marcus] Rashford certainly aren't," continued Neville. "But it looks as though Hojlund will mess people about and the good thing is that he's still learning the game."

Hojlund continues to learn his and United's game at a staggering rate. His early struggles were well-documented, but there were mitigating circumstances such as the player needing sufficient time to settle on