Man United hope to secure Hojlund deal BEFORE the start of the season

Man United are hopeful of securing Rasmus Hojlund deal BEFORE the start of the Premier League season, as discussions continue after £42m opening bid – as PSG ‘join the race for Atalanta hotshot’

• Manchester United retain interest in Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus 
• The club are confident in Erik ten Hag’s ability to develop Rasmus Hojlund 
• PSG make ‘£43m bid for Hojlund’ one day after United launch offer of their own

Manchester United are hopeful of signing Ramus Hojlund before they kick off the new season in 17 days’ time.

United are trying to thrash out a deal with Atalanta for Hojlund after submitting an opening bid of £42million plus £8.5m in add-ons for the Denmark striker.

Manager Erik ten Hag retains an interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus of Ajax if United are unable to sign Hojlund below their £60m ceiling.

But the club are optimistic they will agree terms with Atalanta in time for Hojlund to move to Old Trafford before the opening game at home to Wolves on August 14.

United continue to distance themselves from a move for Tottenham’s Harry Kane due to the England captain’s £100m price tag and age, even though Ten Hag knows that Kane would come with a guarantee of goals in the Premier League.

Manchester United are hopeful of signing Rasmus Hojlund before the end of the transfer window

The Danish striker has been subject of heavy interest from both Man United and Paris Saint-Germain

Privately, United acknowledge that there is a greater risk attached to Hojlund who only scored nine goals for Atalanta in Serie A last season.

They know that the 20-year-old Dane isn’t the finished article and will take longer to adapt to the English game. It may even be that Marcus Rashford starts the season at centre-forward if Anthony Martial hasn’t recovered from injury.

But United are confident in Ten Hag’s ability to improve Hojlund and hone him for the Premier League.

After his side were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Ten Hag agreed that it underlined the need to sign a new striker as soon as possible.

‘Absolutely,’ said the Dutchman. ‘We created some very good chances but we have to be more clinical and score goals from those situations.

‘I think we need more players capable to be one-on-one. It was Rashford, Scott McTominay and (Alejandro) Garnacho. You have to score.

‘It’s always difficult to see. It’s like looking in the (crystal ball) but we are working 24/7. We’ll do everything in our power to get this done.’

Asked about Hojland, he replied: ‘We never talk about players under contract with another club. We have our targets. We are busy with the right player to sign a contract with us.’

Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly looking to rival United to the Dane’s signature

Despite spending almost £110m on Mason Mount and Andre Onana, United are confident they won’t have to sell any more players to buy Hojlund having offloaded Anthony Elanga – whose transfer to Nottingham Forest could rise to £20m in the next few years due to add-ons – Alex Telles and Zidane Iqbal. They can still sell more players in the winter window to comply with Financial Fair Play rules.

United could even have a little money left over to make a fourth signing this summer and retain an interest in goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, even though he isn’t seen as being ready for the Premier League just yet.

Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat is another player on United’s list but their interest has been exaggerated in Italy.

Meanwhile, Onana made an impressive debut in Houston despite being beaten after only six minutes by Jude Bellingham who scored his first goal for Real since a £115m move from Borussia Dortmund last month. Former Newcastle striker Joselu added a second with a scissor kick late on.

Onana made good saves from Vinicius Junior and Joselu, and played out from the back whenever possible. The Cameroonian played 22 passes in the first half alone, only three of which went long.

He came well out of his goal on a number of occasions although Ten Hag admitted there are limits to how many risks his former Ajax keeper will be allowed to take.

‘Definitely there are principles but he’s a keeper who can be used as a plus one in the back, so we definitely will put that in our strategy and tactics,’ said the United boss.

Anthony Elanga’s departure for Nottingham Forest has freed up some space in the budget

Andre Onana made an impressive debut against Real Madrid in Houston with a number of saves

Bellingham went off at half-time shortly after he was involved in a shoving match with Lisandro Martinez who was booked for scything down the England midfielder.

Bellingham admitted he was furious about the incident but calmed down when Martinez approached him to make the peace.

‘The little tiff with Martinez is one of those things,’ said Bellingham. ‘He’s a brilliant player. I came in at half-time and I was effing this and effing that. But then he came over to wish me all the best when he came off, and I really respected it.’

United will return to their training camp in San Diego before finishing off the tour against Dortmund in Las Vegas on Sunday.

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