Football insiders reveal that senior figures in Danish football were “astonished” by the substantial fee Manchester United paid for Rasmus Hojlund last summer, according to sources from Football Insider. Bryan King, a seasoned scout with experience at Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Everton, expressed his surprise at the £72 million transfer amount United disbursed to Atalanta for Hojlund, stating that the expenditure was a significant shock in his homeland.
Since his high-profile move, the Denmark international has failed to meet expectations, having scored only one goal in the Premier League. Despite this, he managed to find the net five times during Manchester United’s unsuccessful Champions League campaign. Hojlund is just one of several signings under Erik ten Hag’s management at Man United who were brought in with hefty price tags but have yet to make a substantial impact. This includes Antony, with a reported £85 million transfer, and Andre Onana, who arrived for a reported fee of £47.2 million.
Bryan King, well-connected in Scandinavian football circles, asserted that Hojlund has proven to be a disappointing signing, struggling to fulfill the considerable expectations placed on him after his arrival at Old Trafford. King, expressing the sentiment of senior football figures in Denmark, emphasized their shock at the £72 million investment in Hojlund and dismissed the comparisons to Erling Haaland, stating that the player is far from reaching that level.
He voiced skepticism about the confidence Hojlund should have in the manager, Erik ten Hag, stating that Ten Hag lacks the personality traits typically sought in a Manchester United manager. Ten Hag has been under scrutiny for his recruitment decisions since joining in 2022, with many attributing the team’s underperformance this season to these choices.
As a consequence of these challenges, Manchester United currently finds themselves in the ninth position on the Premier League table, having scored the joint-lowest number of goals among teams outside the relegation zone, managing just 22 goals. The overall sentiment suggests a period of reflection and evaluation for the club as they navigate the aftermath of significant transfers that have failed to yield the expected impact on the pitch.