Roland Cutinho
Former Manchester United star Louis Saha praises the club for signing Rasmus Hojlund over Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson
Former Manchester United player Louis Saha has praised the club for signing Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund instead of their alternative transfer target, Evan Ferguson, this summer.
Ferguson, who has been a lifelong United fan, was linked with a potential move to Old Trafford in the summer. However, the Red Devils opted to sign Hojlund from Atalanta instead.
The talented Irish striker gained attention from several top-tier clubs after an impressive debut season at Brighton & Hove Albion, and now Manchester City are considering a move for him.
Last season, the 18-year-old scored 16 goals in 34 appearances, leading to him securing a new long-term contract with the Seagulls.
Ferguson has already scored four goals in four appearances in the current campaign, including a hat-trick against Newcastle in his latest outing.
On the other hand, Hojlund, who had been dealing with an injury, made his debut for United in their 3-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Former Man United striker Saha firmly believes that the decision to sign Hojlund over Brighton’s standout talent, Ferguson, was the correct one for Erik ten Hag’s team.
While speaking to Paddy Power (as quoted by the Sun), he said:
“Rasmus Hojlund was the right target for Manchester United over Evan Ferguson. Both players are tremendous with exciting potential but whenever you make a decision, there needs to be no regrets.”
‘Hojlund came on for 25 minutes and he did very well, his strength and power showed, and this will be good for United as other than him there are no real target men at the club.”
In our opinion, signing Hojlund suited the club’s transfer strategies as he was available for a fee that is less than what Brighton would currently ask for Ferguson.
Also, the Irish striker has just penned a fresh five-year contract. Although he can be a star in the future, it will be extremely difficult to negotiate with the seagulls at this point.
Considering the colossal price tag, the striker still has a lot to prove in the league, even if his earlier signs have been promising.
Meanwhile, Hojlund brings versatility to United’s attacking strategy. He can drop deep and participate in link-up play when the team is in possession.
Additionally, he can be used as a direct attacking threat, given his physicality, making him capable of challenging the tough defenders in the league.
The Danish ace’s speed makes him a valuable option for counter-attacks, which is a key asset for Man United. He can serve as a central striker at times, and become a menace inside the penalty area.
The Red Devils heavily relied on Marcus Rashford for creating chances, making runs behind defences, and scoring goals last season.
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With Hojlund’s arrival, Ten Hag can potentially release Rashford to his preferred left-wing role, allowing the young striker to handle other attacking responsibilities.
While the former Serie A ace is a promising player, there is still a long path ahead for him to realise his full potential. It will also be up to Ten Hag to nurture his talents to their fullest.
