Hojlund didn’t score a Premier League goal until the 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, suggesting that he initially struggled to live up to the expectation of that high price tag. But that goal seems to have rekindled the Dane’s passion, as he enters Sunday’s rematch against the Villans on a five-game winning streak.
As the Hojlund arrangement appears to be improving every week, United is currently investigating the prospect of pursuing further business with Atalanta.
Teun Koopmeiners, a midfield player who wants to leave Bergamo this summer, has reportedly made first contact with Erik ten Hag’s team. This information came to light this week.
Fearing Man Utd in the Koopmeiners battle, Juventus
United is the top Premier League contender for Koopmeiners, according to Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness).
Juventus is likewise eager, but they understand that the Red Devils may outspend them financially, especially in light of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent investment.
The “dangerous” United should be able to meet Atalanta’s asking price of about £51 million in order to sell the Dutchman.
Chelsea and Manchester City are now targets for Man Utd’s “immense” teenage striker.
He’s creating waves in his native country and has drawn the attention of Europe’s elite.
United could take heart from the fact that Atalanta is already considering alternatives and has identified Marco Brescianini of Frosinone as a potential candidate.
As they prepare backup plans in case they lose out on Koopmeiners to United, Juventus is also considering Brescianini.
“Sensational” Koopmeiners can deal with the problem of creativity
Koopmeiners has spent the majority of the season playing as an attacking midfielder, but he has also filled in as a number eight and a number six. Earlier in his career, he made 46 appearances at centre back and even made an occasional appearance on the right side.
Dougie Critchley of Sky Sports has praised him as “sensational” due to his extraordinary degree of adaptability.
Despite being rotated across the squad, the 25-year-old midfielder has continued to produce at a high level, scoring seven goals and dishing out four assists in 26 games in all competitions. Koopmeiners has scored more goals than he has assisted, but the analytics behind his play indicate that his greatest asset is creativity. He is in the top seven in Serie A for predicted assisted goals (3.9), shot-creating actions (81) and critical passes (43).
Rank
Player in Serie A
Club
Pass keys
1.
Gudmundsson Albert
Genoa
55
2.
Soule Matias
rosinone
51
3.
Antonio Candreva
The Salernitana
49
4
Teun Koopmeiners
Atlanta
43
5.
Politano Matteo
Napoli
42
Bruno Fernandes (seven) and Marcus Rashford (five) are the only members of the team who have recorded more than two assists across all competitions this year, suggesting that United is in dire need of another playmaker. That they are going for a guy with Koopmeiners’ kind of profile shouldn’t come as a surprise.
