Delight for Man Utd as £38m boost now guaranteed thanks to revitalised star

Manchester United loaned-out striker Rasmus Hojlund is expected to complete a permanent transfer to Napoli.

The Red Devils invested heavily in their attack last summer, signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. The latter’s arrival in particular rendered Hojlund surplus to requirements at Ruben Amorim’s court .

The Dane was thus put on the market, and ended up sealing a transfer to Napoli who needed a replacement for the injured Romelu Lukaku.

Hojlund endured a miserable year at Man Utd last season, only scoring four times in the Premier League. But since making his return to Italy, the 22-year-old has been in splendid form.

He has already bagged four goals in his first three appearances for the Serie A champions, not to mention his most recent exploits on the international stage, netting three goals in his last two caps for Denmark.

Rasmus Hojlund has been decisive for Napoli (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

According to Football Italia journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Napoli are extremely happy with their decision to sign the Man Utd player, and they’re now determined to keep him at the Stadio Maradona regardless of all contractual stipulations.

Napoli signed Hojlund on a year-long loan deal for £5 million, but the agreement also includes an obligation to buy for £38 million that would be triggered by the Italian club’s qualification for the next edition of the Champions League.

Most observers expect the Partenopei to finish in the Top Four. After all, they are the league’s reigning champions and arguably the favourites to retain their scudetto crown. Nevertheless, Napoli have made it clear that they intend to buy Hojlund even if the obligation isn’t activated.

This will be music to the ears of Man Utd, who sent several players out on loan last summer while hoping to avoid awkward summer reunions, similar to the ones witnessed at Carrington last summer, which paved the way for the formation of the so-called ‘bomb squad’.

While United can now sleep easy knowing that Hojlund will remain in Naples and yield them a sizable transfer fee, they’ll be hoping for similar outcomes for Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who are currently on loan at Barcelona and Aston Villa, respectively.