Manchester United might regret £3.5m saving unless £100m transfer gamble pays off

For the second summer in a row, Manchester United opted for potential rather than turning to a proven Premier League scorer to solve their issues in front of goal.

Last year, United quickly moved away from an expensive and complicated pursuit of Harry Kane to sign Rasmus Hojllund instead, spending £64million on signing the striker from Atalanta with a further £8m in add-ons. It saved around £30m - plus wages - on Kane, but Hojlund scored 16 goals in 43 games and the England captain scored 44 goals in 45 games for Bayern Munich.

Hojlund could at least point to the medal he won that Kane didn't, but nobody expected the Dane to get close to the former Tottenham striker for numbers last season. United knew they were signing a player rich in potential but one who needed developing, a 'rough diamond that needs polishing' as one staffer described him.

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His return in his first season at Old Trafford was probably around par for his experience with FC Copenhagen, Sturm Graz and Atalanta. It was the most productive season of his career after all, but it was never likely to be enough to fire United closer to their ambitions.

Hojlund, 21, might be better for getting that first year under his belt but he still looked raw during Euro 2024 and has missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. United needed a striker to compete with him and opted for Joshua Zirkzee, a 23-year-old with a similar profile.

Zirkzee got 12 goals in 37 games for Bologna last season and is a different type of forward to Hojlund, capable of dropping deep and linking play, but he is also a work in progress.