Siddharth Juyal
Peter Crouch questions Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag opting to sign Rasmus Hojlund over Harry Kane
Former Premier League forward Peter Crouch has given his opinion on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s decision to sign Rasmus Højlund over Harry Kane.
United decided to sign Højlund from Serie A side Atalanta for £72m after being linked with England’s captain. The Red Devils never lodged a formal bid for the former Tottenham Hotspur striker despite having a strong interest in him.
Kane eventually signed for the German giants Bayern Munich, who will be facing United in the Champions League opening game. The match set at Allianz Arena on Wednesday will be a massive test for the out-of-form English giants.
Kane has already stamped his authority in the Bundesliga, contributing to four goals and one assist in just five appearances. Crouch believes that the 30-year-old could’ve made a big impact at United and would’ve made them an instant title contender. The former England international added (h/t Mirror):
“They have to give Højlund time but with Harry Kane, you’re buying a ready-made article, and in this day and age you don’t get time as a manager. If I were a manager and I had a choice between both of them, I know who I’d pick”
United prioritized signing a forward after a poor goal-scoring display last season despite finishing 3rd in the Premier League. The Red Devils scored the least number of goals among the clubs that finished in the top six, with a total of 58.
Many football pundits and fans share the sentiments of Crouch as Kane would have been an instant fix for United’s problem.
We think Ten Hag deserves the time to prove that Højlund is worthy and not just a secondary choice. The 20-year-old has already received praise from Old Trafford fans after a strong performance against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Red Devils have previously signed highly-reputed strikers with short-term impact in mind but that strategy has failed too often. It is very likely that United wants to build Højlund into their philosophy and structure so that he can deliver for many years.
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The Danish international is indeed a long-term project but fully capable of delivering the goods this season as well. Højlund has the complete backing of United fans and Ten Hag to leave a lasting legacy at Old Trafford.
