Manchester United might have a wildcard striker target who is available for £34m

It took Rasmus Hojlund until December to score his first goal in the Premier League.

Manchester United invested £72million to sign Hojlund from Atalanta last summer and he was signed because the club believed he could become one of Europe's best strikers.

Hojlund scored five goals in the Champions League group stage, but it took him months to break his duck in the league and he looked relieved when finding the net on December 26.

The forward only celebrated his 21st birthday in February and United knew they were signing potential. Hojlund made a promising start to fulfilling that potential in Manchester but there's no denying another striker is required to support him in the 2024/25 campaign.

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It was unfair to expect Hojlund to shoulder the burden of scoring United's goals on his own last season and it would be foolish to continue with him as the only recognised striker.

Although Anthony Martial was on the books last term, he cannot be relied upon and only played 620 minutes, which left Hojlund as the sole striker. The Frenchman is leaving on a free transfer and it's crucial United replace him with a striker who can compete with Hojlund.

Hojlund scored 16 goals in 43 appearances, which represented a respectable return in his first season in England, but there were times when he struggled and that was expected. It will be fascinating to see how many goals Hojlund can produce next term and whether the arrival of another forward this summer will spur him onto another level.

United must sign a new core of the team: a striker, a midfielder and a centre-back. They have budgeted for