Ten Hag is pleased that Man Utd chose Hojlund over Kane.

Following Harry Kane's departure from Tottenham to Bayern, manager Erik ten Hag stated that he was pleased with Manchester United's decision to sign Rasmus Hojlund.

"We signed Hojlund and we are really happy with this choice," Ten Hag said on August 11 at the press conference ahead of the Premier League opening match against Wolves, when asked to compare the team's new signing to the England striker who is leaving Tottenham for Bayern.

However, the Man Utd manager also praised Kane as a fantastic striker, scoring many goals and possessing all the necessary qualities of a forward. Ten Hag even considered Kane's departure a great loss for the Premier League.

Ten Hag sat next to Hojlund before the Danish striker signed a five-year contract with Man Utd on August 5th. Photo: manutd.com — Ten Hag sat next to Hojlund before the Danish striker signed a five-year contract with Man Utd on August 5th. Photo: *manutd.com*

Kane was a top target for Man Utd in several transfer windows. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy demanded over $150 million from other English clubs, causing the Red Devils to give up. Ultimately, Tottenham agreed to sell Kane to Bayern for $110 million plus $22 million in add-ons.

Meanwhile, Old Trafford signed Hojlund for an upfront fee of $83 million plus $11 million in add-ons from Atalanta. Compared to Kane, the Danish striker is 10 years younger and has earned Man Utd's trust, signing him to a five-year contract until 2028. Hojlund made his debut for the fans at Old Trafford on August 5th, just before the 3-1 friendly win against Lens.

Kane holds the record for scoring 280 goals for Tottenham and 58 for England. He is currently second on the Premier League's all-time leading scorer list with 213 goals, just behind the legendary Alan Shearer's record of 260. Meanwhile, Hojlund has yet to prove himself at the highest level, having scored only nine goals in 32 Serie A matches last season.

However, Ten Hag refused to explain why Man Utd chose Hojlund over Kane. He said: "I don't see myself needing to discuss that. We are professional and have very careful working procedures. Man Utd consider many factors before making a decision, but it's not done overnight. We study every decision and are happy with the current squad."

Rasmus Hojlund's talent in 2023 — Hojlund's talent in 2023.

Despite an injury sustained while playing for Atalanta, Hojlund passed his medical examination. The 20-year-old striker is expected to be out for a few weeks and was not included in the squad for the opening match against Wolves. Ten Hag stated that Hojlund has a back problem, but denied that his player will be out for an extended period.

The Dutch coach also confirmed that former captain Harry Maguire could still play in the match at Old Trafford on August 14th. At a press conference a few hours earlier, West Ham manager David Moyes revealed that Man Utd had accepted a $38 million fee for the English center-back. The deal will be finalized once West Ham completes negotiations on personal terms with Maguire.

Wolves underwent a major shake-up on the coaching bench just days before their match against Man Utd, terminating Julen Lopetegui's contract and appointing Gary O'Neil – the man who helped Bournemouth avoid relegation last season. Ten Hag stated that he is not concerned with the opponent's problems, but rather analyzes and assesses the opponent to find the best tactics.

Hong Duy

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