MU sets price for Højlund

Inter Milan have added Rasmus Højlund to their list of transfer targets and have made initial contact with Manchester United regarding the Danish striker.

Inter Milan have added Rasmus Højlund to their list of transfer targets.

Although they haven't actively put it up for sale, the Old Trafford club is reportedly open to offers if they receive a suitable price – around £40 million.

Højlund joined Man United from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 for an initial fee of £64 million, which could rise to £72 million depending on clauses. Despite a promising start at Old Trafford, the past season has seen a decline in the 22-year-old striker's form, as he has had to carry the attack almost alone.

According to sources in England, Inter prefers to loan Højlund with an option to buy, but Manchester United are likely to only accept a permanent sale if the offer is in the range of 45-50 million euros (38-42 million pounds). With a rebuilding strategy under coach Ruben Amorim, the "Red Devils" need financial resources to strengthen the squad and reduce the wage bill.

Despite the difficulties in the Premier League, Højlund is still highly regarded in Serie A – where he previously shone in the Atalanta shirt. Inter is not the only Italian team interested in the striker, as many Serie A clubs still consider the Danish center forward a highly promising talent, especially given his lack of support from experienced senior players at Man United.

According to sources from England, Inter prioritize loaning Højlund first, with an option to buy.

Inter are preparing to appoint Cristian Chivu as head coach, replacing Simone Inzaghi, who left to manage Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia). Ahead of the Club World Cup in the USA, the Milanese club aims to strengthen its attack, with Højlund being one of the priority choices.

On Manchester United's side, they have just completed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million and are approaching Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford to address their goal-scoring drought.

With no European qualification for next season, manager Ruben Amorim plans to build a leaner, more efficient squad and significantly reduce costs. According to the Q3 financial report, Manchester United's wage bill for the first three months of 2025 decreased by 22% to £71.2 million, primarily due to loan deals such as Rashford (Aston Villa) and Antony.

If Manchester United offload more high-earning players like Rashford, Casemiro, or Sancho, they could reduce their wage bill for the 2025/26 season to around £285 million – £80 million less than the previous two seasons.

This is part of a cost-control strategy spearheaded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, aimed at bringing the wage structure back into a more balanced proportion to performance. Over the past 18 months, Man United has shifted toward highly motivating signings, reducing base salaries and linking them closely to individual and team achievements.

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-ra-gia-ban-h-jlund-post1558909.html