Making a Center-Forward Priority After the 2022–2023 Season
It is without a doubt necessary for Manchester United to get a striker. The signing of a center-forward was high on their priority list going into the summer transfer window after the 2022–23 season, in which Anthony Martial’s injuries and the temporary Wout Weghorst Solution’ in January following Cristiano Ronaldo’s November leave left them handicapped in the center-forward spot.
Due to financial limitations, United cannot realistically pursue the highly sought-after options of Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, both of whom have asking prices around £100 million ($128.3 million). As a result, their search has shifted towards a more affordable option; one that might carry less financial risk.
Ten Hag’s requirements are met by Hojlund’s resume-
Hojlund only left his teen years in February, but his raw skills, which closely match the profile of the striker Ten Hag is looking for—a player who is prepared to run in behind, connect the attack, work hard out of possession, and, of course, have a resilient penalty-box presence—have not exactly lit up Serie A in terms of numbers.
Consistently scoring enough goals was one of United’s major problems throughout the previous season. They only trailed an almost-relegated Everton and a Chelsea team that had multiple managers in a single season in the Premier League for the third-worst non-penalty goals under expectation with 11.4. Furthermore, with 58 league goals, they were the fewest among the top six teams and had just seven more than eliminated Leicester City.
The Qualities of Hojlund Fit the Premier League-
Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, new acquisition Mason Mount, and Alejandro Garnacho all missed opportunities during a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday in the United States, which did not go unnoticed by their boss. It is a problem that has crept into this preseason. Hojlund looks to offer a practical solution to similar problems on this front.
His 0.47 non-penalty anticipated goals (xG) per 90 statistic for the previous season was seventh among Serie A players who saw at least 900 minutes of game action – and he almost exactly met anticipation by scoring 0.44 non-penalty goals every 90.
Hojlund is OBSESSED with United, he wants this move. pic.twitter.com/kUroUSqprm
— 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 (@CantonasCoIIar) July 28, 2023
Hojlund’s physical characteristics will probably make any adjustment to Premier League football easier than others, but his quickness during transitional situations will be especially suitable for Ten Hag’s side.
Making Use of Hojlund’s Strengths-
He is very fast; his 100-meter time was under 11 seconds, and he wasn’t even trying very hard. He has a low centre of gravity for his height (6 feet 3 inches; 191 cm), which allows him to move his legs quickly, according to Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. United had the most direct assaults in the Premier League last season with 143, with better counter-attacking play being a significant component of Ten Hag’s first season.
Direct attacks are defined as possessions that start in a team’s own half and result in a shooting or other touch within the penalty area within 15 seconds. Hojlund frequently accelerated past opponent players to get ahead of the action last season, displaying his scorching pace on several occasions.
In February’s 2-0 victory away at Lazio, a nice illustration of this can be seen when Jose Luis Palomino makes a mistake and releases Ademola Lookman from the Atalanta left side. A striker who commands the penalty area and is effective on the break? Ten Hag gives that a double thumbs up.
United’s rate of 9.7 open-play crosses per 90 last season was tied for fourth-lowest in the Premier League, indicating that they were not as keen to work the ball around the defence as they could have been.
Their wide forwards, whether it was Rashford, Jadon Sancho, or Antony, frequently looked to move inside into crowded parts of the play. But United might profit from playing to Hojlund’s strengths by utilising more crosses from the flanks given his energetic, bulldozing rushing towards the penalty box.
Potential and Versatility of Hojlund-
When the ball is played over the 18-yard box, Hojlund is in the ideal position because of his timing to attack low crosses. Hojlund frequently made dangerous runs into the wide channels, cutting into open space, and frequently coordinating with a striking partner in Gasperini’s 3-5-2 formation (or rarely 3-4-3). The Dane may modify such off-ball motion towards more vertical runs, in addition drifting into broader areas, as Ten Hag seeks a more central presence from his attacker.
But since United often control the ball against inferior teams, there could be less room for him to attack since the opposition might have lined up in a deeper block. That is why any new player at Old Trafford would be well-received if he or she knew how to play with their back to the goal.
Hojlund also checks this box. Although the six-cap Dane can play on the defensive of the opponent, his capacity to drop in and connect with his teammates demonstrates that he is more than simply a player to end assaults.
Hojlund’s 13 touches per shoot, which is double that of pure poachers like Erling Haaland (6.6 touches per shot) and Osimhen (6.0), rates him 69th among attackers in Europe’s top five leagues. Despite his strengths when the ball is on the ground, his aerial game may be strengthened. Hojlund isn’t the kind of center-forward you can throw the ball at in the hopes of avoiding the pressure, even if he is well over 6 feet tall—his aerial victory percentage from the previous season was only 37%.
The Savvy Purchase for Manchester United
We may examine Hojlund’s smarterscout duel ratings, which take into account the calibre of the opponent encountered in those duels rather than just their victory percentage, to further demonstrate his aerial prowess.
In open play, if a player of his height and size would be anticipated to be above average in such circumstances, Hojlund’s aerial skill profiles more like to that of Martial, who is just under 6 feet tall at 181 cm.
It serves as a reminder that Hojlund is still only 20 years old and that there is still potential for him to develop and grow in a number of areas of his game. If he moves to the Premier League with United, they are prepared to give him the time he needs to adjust.
Few people would now rank Hojlund among the top 10 attackers in Europe who are considered to be exceptional and well-known. Should this put off United supporters? Not at all, in fact.
United may finally be investing in a long-term, financially prudent option for a player who is still developing but has a very high ceiling after focusing on short-term forward alternatives for several seasons.
Hojlund’s next step is probably the largest if it involves moving to Old Trafford, but should the move go through, he has everything he needs to succeed in a United uniform.
