Man United must sign £50m Rasmus Hojlund 'upgrade' despite Joshua Zirkzee transfer

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has urged Erik ten Hag and Ineos to target Brentford striker Ivan Toney who he believes could outscore Rasmus Hojlund this season.

Toney scored 20 goals in the Premier League for Brentford in the 2022/23 season but his momentum was abruptly halted last year when he was found guilty of breaking gambling rules. When he eventually returned in January, the striker bagged four goals in five Premier League matches but finished the season without adding to that tally.

The England international has made it clear that he wishes to make a move to a 'top club' this summer but at 28, nobody has decided to take the gamble yet. Reports on Wednesday suggested United still held an interest in Toney to provide competition for Hojlund who will miss the first three weeks of the season with injury.

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United have already added Joshua Zirkzee to their squad this summer but Scholes explained to The Overlap Fan Debate that he is worried neither the former Bologna forward or Hojlund can get the same return up front as Toney. "You have got to look at the forward players," Scholes explained.

"Could Hojlund score 25 goals for us this season? I would be amazed, I’d be surprised.

"You look at someone like Ivan Toney if he could come to us. Could he score 25 goals? I think he could.

"I think he [Hojlund] is really good but he has been brought into this country at 19 [21] years of age and he has been asked to be the No.9 for Man United. It is an iconic role for players who are scoring 20, 25, 30 goals and winning league titles.

"He should be a second, third or fourth-choice striker at a big club.