One of many main priorities for Manchester United heading into the summer season switch window was the signing of a brand new top-class centre-forward, with the Pink Devils having been left considerably depleted in that division following the acrimonious exit of Cristiano Ronaldo again in November.
Whereas January mortgage arrival Wout Weghorst plugged a spot for a quick interval – albeit reasonably unsuccessfully with simply two targets to indicate for his efforts – the towering Dutchman’s subsequent exit left supervisor Erik ten Hag with Anthony Martial as his sole senior centre-forward choice, a participant who has develop into extra acquainted with the therapy desk than bursting the web in latest instances.
Following weeks of hypothesis initially of the window, the Pink Devils finally set their sights on Atalanta hotshot Rasmus Hojlund to fill that longstanding void in assault, with the 20-year-old Dane having been snapped up for an eye-watering price of £72m, regardless of netting simply 9 Serie A targets final season.
A irritating early harm setback has left the previous Sturm Graz ace going through a wait to make his much-anticipated debut, nonetheless, albeit with supporters prone to be excited on the prospect of ultimately witnessing a determine in motion who has earned comparisons to fellow Scandinavian striker, Erling Haaland.
For all of the undoubted promise that the teen possesses, the jury is out on whether or not his uncooked skills can carry the goalscoring burden each this season and past, with questions prone to be requested as to why a sure Harry Kane did not find yourself in Manchester as a substitute.
Why did not Man United signal Kane?
Studies way back to March had indicated that the England captain had been recognized as Ten Hag’s main centre-forward goal heading into the summer season window, with Spurs’ document goalscorer having been touted for an exit with only a 12 months left to run on his contract on the time.
As 90min reported in Might, United’s unique plan gave the impression to be to usher in a confirmed choice like Kane in addition to a second, younger striker to assist him, albeit with Hojlund proving to be the one attacking recruit of the window – even regardless of the membership’s hectic deadline day dealings.
Fairly why the Pink Devils didn’t do extra to attempt to prise Kane from N17 is one thing to ponder, though the indications had been that the membership had been cautious of getting to take care of cussed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, with the latter man seemingly intent on not promoting his prize asset to a Premier League rival.
Because it proved, reasonably than getting embroiled in a drawn-out saga – a choice to little doubt be admired – United turned their attentions away from Kane towards Hojlund, with the 30-year-old as a substitute sealing a big-money transfer to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, amid his long-awaited want for silverware.
Though maybe an astute transfer to stroll away from their pursuit of Kane, the Outdated Trafford outfit are playing on their youthful new addition to make an prompt impression, notably with Martial – who has began simply as soon as this season thus far – nonetheless to not be relied upon.
To then assist ease the burden on Hojlund, Ten Hag ought to nicely contemplate handing a everlasting promotion to an thrilling member of the membership’s academy ranks, within the type of 19-year-old starlet, Joe Hugill.
Who’s Joe Hugill?
As The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell revealed on deadline day, the United hierarchy opted to not ship the younger Englishman out on mortgage in favour of holding him beneath the watchful eye of Ten Hag at Carrington, with {the teenager} additionally mentioned to be in line for a brand new contract extension, till the summer season of 2026.
That bumper new deal for the £2.1k-per-week sensation is little doubt simply reward for his fantastic kind at youth stage since having been signed from Sunderland again in 2020, with the Pink Devils warding off rival curiosity from the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Leeds United on the time.
A reasonably prolific and “medical” determine in assault – as hailed by journalist Josh Bunting – Hugill boasts a haul of 18 targets in simply 24 video games for the membership’s U18 aspect, having additionally gone on to attain 25 targets in 49 outings whereas within the U21 set-up as an indication of his devastating ending prowess.
A part of the aspect that claimed FA Youth Cup glory final 12 months, alongside the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, the 6 foot 2 ace will little doubt be hoping to comply with within the footsteps of their pair by actually forcing his into Ten Hag’s senior ranks, having already had a style of the first-team throughout pre-season.
The Durham-born ace notably netted late on in the course of the opening pleasant fixture of the summer season in opposition to rivals Leeds, with that strike – and his all-round efficiency – incomes reward from ex-United man and MUTV pundit Luke Chadwick on the time:
“He’s actually old fashioned. His motion is great. I used to be actually impressed. He’s such a superb runner, with a willingness to get behind the again 4.”
Additionally beforehand described as a “actual pure finisher” by Bunting, it’s maybe simple to see why the teen has additionally earned comparisons to that man Kane, with the hope being that he can emulate the Bayern machine by transitioning from youth star to first-team hero within the years to return.
Whereas Hugill has so far not been a part of a matchday squad for United this season – with a aggressive senior bow nonetheless but to return – he’ll little doubt have caught Ten Hag’s consideration with two targets in simply 4 appearances thus far this time period, together with netting in opposition to Stockport County within the latest EFL Trophy assembly.
In fact, it’s a main step up attempting to emulate such a promising objective return at first-team stage, though the Durham-born gem has maybe warranted the possibility to attempt to set up himself as a attainable understudy to Hojlund transferring ahead, notably with Martial unable to stay harm free.
Such a bunch of centre-forward choices, on the face of it, doesn’t appear like it is going to be sufficient to energy United to silverware in the way in which that Kane doubtlessly might have performed, though Ten Hag might ease that switch failure by discovering his personal model of the Englishman in Hugill.
