Rasmus Hojlund signing could give Manchester United perfect Harry Kane transfer plan

Manchester United's interest in Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is nothing new, but his status in the squad might not be what Erik ten Hag had envisioned.

The Dutchman had made Harry Kane his top target this summer amid a determination to add a proven goalscorer to his squad at centre-forward, but Tottenham's refusal to sell to another Premier League club has kyboshed any hope of that deal coming to fruition. When Ten Hag targeted Hojlund it was more likely to be as a young forward to come in alongside someone like Kane. Now there's a good chance the 20-year-old will be the only striker joining the club this summer and that brings with it plenty of pressure.

Hojlund has admirers within the game and has made a good start to his international career, but as United discuss a £50million fee for the youngster, there is also an acceptance he has room to develop. If the Dane does move to Old Trafford this summer then he will have had four clubs before he turns 21 and four in three years.

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It's been a rapid rise and not too dissimilar to fellow Scandinavian striker Erling Haaland, who had four clubs in four years as he went from Bryne to Molde to RB Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund. Hojlund's rise has seen him move from FC Copenhagen to Sturm Graz and then Atalanta last summer for around €17million. It will be a profit of more than 10 per cent in 12 months if the Italian side does sell.

That is also pretty much where the similarities end between Haaland and Hojund. If the former was a guarantee of goals for Manchester City, the latter isn't yet for United. There were nine in 32 appearances in Serie A last season, nine in 18 in the Austrian Bundesliga and none