Why Manchester United Fans Need To Give New Signing Rasmus Hojlund Time To Adapt

Manchester United’s biggest signing of the summer has yet to play for the club due to injury, but Rasmus Hojlund now looks set to make his debut this weekend against Arsenal.

Signed from Atalanta Bergamo for an initial £65 million, which can rise a further £10 million with add-ons, Hojlund has been brought in by Erik Ten Hag to lead the line and spearhead United’s attack for the next decade.

At just 20 years of age, Hojlund comes with a rawness that is still apparent, but youthful exuberance and an eye for goal. In his debut Serie A season, at just 19, Hojlund managed nine league goals and a further four assists, making him the youngest to have done so.

Manchester United have been crying out for a centre forward to come in and win games for them. They have had Wout Weghorst, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Odion Ighalo and Cristiano Ronaldo come in on short term deals to bridge the gap over the past six years, and so it is a welcome addition to see a striker from the up and coming generation take centre stage.

Hojlund, standing at 6ft3, is not only incredibly physical and strong, he is lightning quick too. While Ten Hag will want to eventually become a possession-based team, the Dane’s turn of speed and acceleration will be perfectly suited to counter attacks – which is how United play, especially away from home.

While he commands a big fee, primarily based on his potential, Hojlund still has a lot of work to do in and around the box. His hold up play will improve tenfold, as will his clinical edge, working with attacking coach Benni McCarthy.

Manchester United fans will need to be patient with Hojlund, who comes in with high expectations of him. In principal, the Red Devils should have signed another centre forward to ease Hojlund’s transition and take away some of the burden of goal scoring for the team.

An older, more experienced number nine, such as FC Porto’s Mehdi Taremi, would have been ideal. It would have given the Denmark international some breathing space for a season and get up to speed of the Premier
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League, which is no easy feat at such a young age in your first season.

Hojlund has all the characteristics and ambition needed to make a success out of his career at the top level, but it is crucial that he remains patient if he does not have a blistering start. To come in against Arsenal and make your debut away from home is not the easiest of games to make a statement, but he will have the inner confidence to take centre stage.

There is real excitement for the first time in over half a decade about a Manchester United centre forward that has the potential to reach new heights. It is now about nurturing the young Dane and getting the best from him.