Switch information skilled Fabrizio Romano has stated Manchester United had the chance to signal Aston Villa ace Ollie Watkins in the summertime of 2023. Nonetheless, the membership determined to move on the chance, signing Rasmus Hojlund as a substitute.
Essentially the most profitable staff in English soccer, Manchester United discovered themselves with out an out-and-out goalscorer in the summertime of 2023. Stories linked many confirmed goalscorers with a transfer, however Man Utd selected to guess on younger Danish center-forward Hojlund, with the membership paying a €73.9 million ($81.03 million) charge to signal him from Atalanta.
The 21-year-old has been a little bit of a hit-and-miss since his big-money transfer from Italy, failing to realize consistency.
Manchester United Rejected Ollie Watkins for Rasmus Hojlund
In line with Italian journalist Romano, Man Utd had loads of choices in the summertime of 2023, together with Aston Villa talisman Watkins. Nonetheless, they solely had eyes for Hojlund.
In his Every day Briefing column for CaughtOffside, Romano revealed:
“I’ve additionally been requested a couple of story involving United and Ollie Watkins in 2023, because it’s been claimed that they determined to not signal the Aston Villa striker, focusing as a substitute on Ramus Hojlund.
“My info is that that they had a number of choices on the desk, not solely Watkins, however they take into account Hojlund an enormous expertise for the long run with large potential, so their primary selection in 2023 was all the time Hojlund.”
He concluded by including:
“Was it the appropriate choice? Personally, I might not criticize Hojlund – he wants time however he’s gifted and an excellent participant, although it’s most likely true that an skilled striker subsequent to him would have helped United.”
In hindsight, signing Watkins most likely would have served United higher, a minimum of within the brief run. The England worldwide hit his profession excessive within the 2023-24 season, bagging 19 objectives and 13 assists in 37 Premier League matches. His invaluable objective contributions helped the Villans safe a spot within the UEFA Champions League for the primary time of their historical past. The 28-year-old has been in glorious kind this season as effectively, scoring 4 objectives and offering three assists in 9 video games throughout competitions.
Hojlund, in the meantime, has solely scored 17 objectives and supplied two assists for Man Utd in 48 matches. Nonetheless, it’s to be famous that he’s nonetheless simply 21 and is enjoying in his second season in England. So, if he retains his head down and works onerous, his numbers ought to solely get higher.
