How does he evaluate to Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford?
5 min read
A touted star of the long run, Rasmus Hojlund may quickly be a Manchester United participant.
The 20-year-old striker made such an impression in his debut season at Atalanta that Erik ten Hag is keen to sanction a £59.9m transfer for the ahead. Hyperlinks with Harry Kane, Randal Kolo Muani and Victor Osimhen have come and gone, with the Dutch coach seemingly content material with the youthful and cheaper Hojlund.
The signings of Mason Mount and Andre Onana have already raised expectations at Outdated Trafford and the arrival of Hojlund will solely add extra stress on the Purple Devils to succeed subsequent season.
Securing Champions League qualification, successful the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup last helped Ten Hag win over the membership’s supporters, however with each passing 12 months comes a better expectation to win extra significant trophies and problem for Europe’s largest prizes.
The consensus amongst these in Manchester was that had the membership had a extra prolific and orthodox quantity 9 final 12 months, the Purple Devils may have achieved even better issues. Subsequent season, Ten Hag could have the person he wants to remodel United.
When in comparison with United’s present strikers Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, Hojlund presents the Purple Devils a totally completely different menace. The teenager is extremely bodily, has good tempo and an unbelievable nous for locating house within the penalty space.
With a bit assist from FBref, we are able to analyse how Hojlund compares to United’s present attacking choices.
When wanting on the extra apparent metrics of what makes a great striker – targets and assists – Hojlund has proven his means to contribute successfully. He scored 12 targets and registered 4 assists in 37 matches with Sturm Graz and Atalanta final season. Rashford, who’s extra comfy coming off the left-hand aspect, managed 17 targets and 5 assists in 35, whereas Martial, who struggled for health final time period, registered simply six targets and two assists in 21 matches.
Nonetheless, Hojlund solely began 24 of 37, whereas Rashford began 32 of 35, highlighting how spectacular Hojlund’s statistics are given his extra managed sport time. Equally, Martial solely began 11 instances final time period, displaying he’s nonetheless efficient in entrance of objective when match.
Each Hojlund and Rashford outperformed their anticipated targets by roughly two targets every. This both highlights their proficiency in entrance of objective or means that their present goalscoring feats aren’t sustainable long-term. Given Rashford’s consistency and expertise, the previous in all probability applies to him, whereas Hojlund stays a extra unknown amount.
Nonetheless, Hojlund’s arrival can profit Rashford tremendously. One of many Englishman’s greatest attributes is his tempo and willingness to run at defenders, boasting a 39.1% success fee from 138 take-ons final season. Hojlund’s arrival will enable Rashford to function on the left flank the place he could be simpler working at full-backs.
One space of play the place Hojlund is anticipated to assist United considerably is his means to carry the ball up.
The emergency mortgage of Wout Weghorst final season was meant to supply Ten Hag somebody with an identical skillset whereas additionally urgent from the entrance and successful aerial duels, however the Dutchman’s influence was restricted.
Once you evaluate these gamers’ profitable aerial duel proportion, Hojlund comes out on prime, albeit solely narrowly above Martial. Rashford gained simply 33.3% of his aerial duels final time period, whereas Hojlund and Martial boasted 37.1% and 37% success charges respectively. It is clear each the standard centre-forwards are extra suited to utilizing their physicality and competing with centre-backs, one thing Hojlund might want to do within the Premier League to achieve success.
Nonetheless, there’s not a lot use in having a bodily quantity 9 who can’t do something productive when the ball arrives at his ft. Hojlund does have the bottom go accuracy of the three attackers final season, with simply 73.1% of his passes discovering a goal. In the meantime, Rashford and Martial had 76.7% and 80.2% accuracy respectively, displaying their technical superiority.
Whereas Hojlund is a extremely intelligent and aggressive striker who will possible do nice issues for Ten Hag and his system, he’s not an unbelievable improve on what United already possess at this second in time. Nonetheless, when you think about that Rashford is extra productive on the left wing and that Martial’s health can’t be trusted, it turns into much more obvious why United are so determined for reinforcements up prime.
Hojlund’s age should even be taken in consideration. He is solely 20-years-old, 5 years youthful than Rashford and 7 years youthful than Martial.
It is evident that United are enjoying for a ahead with enormous potential, a challenge participant that Ten Hag can mould into his excellent striker. The truth that he’s already producing aggressive numbers when in comparison with United’s present attacking choices highlights his maturity and intelligence on the sector at such a young age.
Having been in comparison with Erling Haaland previously by his coach Gian Piero Gasperini, United supporters will likely be hoping he can finally compete with the Norwegian and put the membership again on the prime of the tree.
If he arrives at Outdated Trafford, all eyes will likely be on him, and there will likely be nowhere to cover.
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