In what has been the world’s worst kept secret, Manchester United continue to try and find an agreement with Italian side Atalanta Bergamo for their star striker, Rasmus Hojlund.

The Serie A club have received an offer of around £50 million, inclusive of add-ons, from Erik Ten Hag’s side, but are waiting for a figure nearer to the £60 million mark.

Hojlund, who plays internationally with United player Christian Eriksen for Denmark, has agreed personal terms on a five-year contract, and is awaiting news of an agreement being struck between the two clubs.

Those close to Hojlund claim the Red Devils is his club of choice over Paris Saint-Germain, who have also agreed a contract with him and are in negotiations with Atalanta.

After Manchester United failed to score against Real Madrid in their pre-season preparations, it once again shone a glaring light on the team’s lack of firepower in the final third.

There were moments of ingenuity and interchanges across the midfield and wide men, but there was no one attacking the box as a typical centre forward would do. As seen throughout much of last season, the lack of presence in the six-yard box was a huge miss and became easily defendable at times.

Ten Hag and his management staff have been following Hojlund throughout last season, where he notched nine Serie A goals and four assists in 32 appearances for the northern Italian team. He became the youngest player in Serie A to contribute to 10+ goals at the age of 20.

Hojlund is a physical specimen, standing at around 6foot4 and with a sharp turn of pace. Ten Hag has shown his adoration towards more physical centre forwards - case in point with bringing Wout Weghorst in on loan last January - and sees the Denmark international as his perfect number nine.

There have been talks of Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, but with Daniel Levy refusing to budge on a £100 million transfer fee with just one-year left on his deal, it is increasingly unlikely that Manchester United come in for him due to teetering towards the edge of financial fair play regulations.

If Hojlund is to arrive at Old Trafford, with all parties feeling confident of making it happen, then there will be an unnerving amount of pressure on his shoulders from day one. Fans will continue to get behind him every step of the way, but it is a lot to manage for a 20 year old in just the move itself, let alone being tasked with scoring goals on a regular basis in your maiden season.

Manchester United are hoping to beat the competition in signing Hojlund this summer and securing his future at the club for at least a decade long. It is a considerable investment with just one season played in a top five league, but Ten Hag is adamant that this is the centre forward that will help relieve goalscoring pressures.

The Red Devils hope to conclude a deal by next week and give Hojlund ample time to settle in before their opening Premier PINC League game at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 14th.