MANCHESTER UNITED look set to finally land their No.1 striker target Rasmus Hojlund.
The Red Devils have reached a £72million deal to land the 20-year-old Atalanta ace.
GettyManchester United have agreed a £72m deal to sign Rasmus Hojlund[/caption]
The most likely fit into Erik ten Hag’s system
United will pay £64m upfront, with a further £8m coming in add-ons as Hojlund pens a five-year deal after saying goodbye to team-mates.
Erik ten Hag has been very open about his desire to land a new striker, with only Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes breaking the 10-goal mark among the squad last season.
And following the agreement struck between the two sides, the Dutchman can get to planning how Hojlund will fit into his team.
The most obvious answer would be for the forward – dubbed the Danish Erling Haaland – to fit in at the tip of United’s attack.
Ten Hag is likely to adopt his usual 4-3-3 formation once again, with Hojlund fitting in snuggly in the No.9 spot.
This would see him supported by Rashford – who declared left-wing to be his favoured position – and one of Antony or Jadon Sancho on the right wing.
In midfield, new club captain Fernandes would be joined by Mason Mount and Casemiro on most matchdays.
With Andre Onana anchoring the defence, the remainder will be unchanged from Ten Hag’s favoured back line last season.
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United may end up playing a two-striker system
This would therefore see Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane at CB with Luke Shaw at left-back – with right-back being the one area where Ten Hag can toss up his options from game to game.
Of course, the ex-Ajax boss can be flexible with his tactics, and may even move to a two-striker diamond midfield against certain opposition – again spearheaded by Hojlund and Rashford.
Alternatively, United could adopt a three-at-the-back system with bombing wing-backs supporting a lethal attacking trident.
United will also be bolstered by the arrivals of Mount and Onana along the spine of the team.
Although reports have also suggested a move for Moroccan World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat is in the works.
While a new formation could beckon next season
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