20-year-old Danish striker Rasmus Højlund is valued at £86m by Atalanta despite playing fewer than 90 senior games. over £60m for Atalanta striker Rasmus Høilund as they grapple with tight financial controls governing spending.
United are in talks with the Italian club over the Danish striker but have a firm ceiling on the 20-year-old striker, who was initially valued at an outlandish £86m. less than 90 appearances for the senior club – this is not their only option.
United are believed to be in simultaneous talks with Eintracht for 24-year-old striker Randal Kolo Muani, and it is clear that Ten Hag also has a strong interest in Ajax striker Mohammed Kudus.
Ten Hag said progress has been made in their hunt for a new striker after admitting that United failed in goal last season and needs a sharper approach.
“Yes, we are making progress, but we know how it works, and when we have it, we will tell you directly,” said the Dutchman.
“The only thing I can say is that we are doing everything in our power to make it happen. If it was up to me, as soon as possible, because we have to integrate him.
“In an ideal situation, he would already be here, but ideal situations do not always exist, and the situation must be dealt with.”
United have scored the fewest goals in the top six in the Premier League, just 58 in 38 games, and Ten Hag insisted that more players intervene.
“We're not efficient enough and we know it, so others should also contribute in this area and that's why we're looking for scoring ability,” he said.
Kudus is also the subject of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal, and he will represent a different type of striker compared to Hoylund and Muani, who are more well-known centre-forwards. Interestingly, sources have indicated that the new striker does not have to be the uncompromising number 9, hence the interest in Kudus.
United had also previously considered Atlético Madrid's Joao Felix, but pulled out of a loan deal with the Portuguese striker in January due to the costs involved. Instead, Felix moved to Chelsea on loan.
Under the circumstances, it is unlikely that United will challenge Bayern Munich for a £100m-rated Harry Kane, although ideally he would be the striker Ten Hag would most like to sign.
Old Trafford sources are adamant that they will sign the striker before the transfer window closes on 1 September, but there is an opinion that this should be the right price, and that they have little margin for error given the dire need for a striker and Europe's new financial structure.
United have spent an initial £99m on England midfielder Mason Mount and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onan this summer and are operating on a budget of around £120m nett. United are on the brink of their transfer spending after signing Mason Mount (pictured) and goalkeeper Andre Onan. Photo: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
They will receive around £20m from the sale of Anthony Elanga and Alex Telles to Nottingham Forest and Al Nasr respectively. United will likely earn more from both add-on deals.
But with a striker not yet signed, the need to sell more players is clear if they are to comfortably comply with UEFA's new financial soundness rules and the Premier League's own profit and soundness rules and ensure they don't limit their wiggle room in future windows.
Under the new UEFA rules, clubs will eventually be limited to spending 70 per cent of their total revenues plus profits from any player sales on transfers, player and coach wages and agent fees. In the next season, this figure will be 90%, and in a year – 80%.
United sources have said they simply can't just throw an extra £10m on the striker because financial sustainability calculations like those that run the Premier League are tough and it will have a domino effect on the next transfer they make.
Recruitment has improved since Ten Hag took over last year but after a series of costly transfer mistakes over the years, United can't let it go. so signing this striker doesn't work.
Mount only had a year left on his contract with Chelsea and United. sources say they are looking for other quality players who could have 12 months left on a contract next summer as it makes them cheaper to buy.
They are also targeting younger talent before their ratings can skyrocket and put Hoylund in that category.
With Anthony Martial still working on his return to form from a hamstring injury at the end of last season and the club yet to sign a striker, Ten Hag is experimenting with Jadon Sancho as a false nine in preseason. and it is considered a creative alternative that the manager can use next season.
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