Inter Milan are becoming increasingly confident of landing Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund after the player gave his green light to joining the club.
The young Danish international endured a hugely disappointing season at Old Trafford in 2024/25, notching just 10 goals and four assists in 52 games.
This has not deterred clubs in Serie A, where he impressed at Atalanta before joining United, to make a move for the 22 year old as the Red Devils open up their entire squad to potential sales.
Inter think they are leading the chase for Hojlund and have “good reasons to be optimistic”, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (GDS) (today’s paper edition, page 5).
The outlet reports that Hojlund “has opened up on the possibility of returning to Serie A” and that this is “a fundamental step, around which all of Inter’s desire and hope to strike the blow is based.”
On the basis of the player’s desire to move, Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio travelled to London yesterday to make contact with United about the possibility of a deal.
However, the negotiation will not be straightforward, because the Nerazzurri would prefer a loan with an option to buy, set around €45 million (£38m) whereas United are “pushing for a permanent farewell”.
However, Aurelio would agree to that option to buy becoming compulsory if certain conditions are met. This offers plenty of room for manoeuvre if from a PSR point of view, United can wait 12 months for the income.
“It is not an operation that can be completed very quickly,” GDS explain. “But Inter are confident, also because in the meantime Juventus seem to have lost ground. The black and white club had shown interest in recent weeks, but then the matter was no longer followed up.
“Ausilio, on the other hand, has kept the contacts alive, as yesterday’s mission shows. The parties are far apart on the modality, but there is room to build the deal.”
Although United have signed Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, who can play in the centre forward role, and are closing in on Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, it seems likely they would want to replace Hojlund with a specialist striker.
So, while Inter are relaxed about the timing of the deal, INEOS would no doubt rather tie things up quickly so they have time to replace the Dane before the pre-season tour starts next month.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
