Man United Reach Agreement With Atalanta Over The Signing Of Striker Rasmus Højlund.

Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement with Atalanta for the signing of striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund emerged as manager Erik ten Hag’s primary candidate for the number nine striking role following their 2-0 preseason friendly defeat to Real Madrid mid-week in the United States .

However, the Serie A side’s asking price proved to be a stumbling block for the Red Devils, as Atalanta had wanted €90million for the 20-year-old.

Hojlund joined Atalanta in August 2022 and scored 10 goals in 34 appearances last season

Though he was in the La Dea's squad for their friendly away game against Bournemouth on English soil today which they won 3-1, but he spent all of it on the bench, as nobody wanted to risk an injury so close to the massive transfer deal.

Hojlund began his senior career at Copenhagen, making his Danish Superliga debut aged 17 in 2020, before switching to Austrian side Sturm Graz two years later.

He spent only six months in the Austrian Bundesliga after joining Sturm in January 2022, and scored a goal every other game, finding the net nine times in 17 starts.

That impressive form led to his move to Atalanta for a reported £15m, 10 times what Sturm Graz had paid for him six months earlier.

Internationally, he made his debut in 2022 and has scored six goals in six games, all in qualifying for Euro 2024.

United have now finally agreed a deal worth €75million (£64m/$83m) plus €10million (£9m/$11m) in performance-related add-ons, as the Danish international prepares for an Atalanta exit just 12 months after joining.

Despite all other options being under consideration including Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani and Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus, United have agreed preliminary personal terms with Hojlund earlier this month, and he is set to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a further year.

Hojlund becomes United's third signing of the summer, after midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea for £55m, and goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for £47.2m, taking the club's total spending this summer to a minimum £166.2m, with the potential to rise to £180m.

He is expected at United's Carrington training complex within the next 48 hours to undergo a medical and finalise the deal, before he starts training with his new team-mates.

United beat Paris Saint-Germain who also entered the race to sign the forward and are hoping to land him as a Kylian Mbappe replacement. Mbappe, 24, is set to leave PSG this summer after being put up for sale by Nasser Al Khelaifi.

Saudi Arabian club side Al-Hilal have tabled a world-record bid, Real Madrid are interested and several Premier League clubs have expressed their desire to sign the Frenchman.

United made a verbal offer of €50m plus €10m in add-ons to Atalanta on Wednesday while PSG made their own bid of €50m on Thursday, but Man United remained Hojlund’s preferred destination this summer.

Atalanta already signed the replacement for Hojlund today, breaking their all-time transfer record for 21-year-old El Bilal Toure from Almeria at €28m plus €2m in bonuses.

United will now consider a move for Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat who has one year remaining in his contract, if there are enough funds left over from player sales following a major injury blow to young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.

Hojlund could make his United debut at Old Trafford, in a friendly against French Ligue 1 side Lens next Saturday and will be available for the start of the new season just as boss Erik ten Hag wanted.

Their Premier League campaign starts against Wolves at Old Trafford on August 14.