Rasmus Hojlund is set to play at the venue for next year's World Cup final.
Manchester United's friendly against West Ham at MetLife Stadium might not be a major event, but it is significant for the Danish striker. Anticipated to draw nearly 50,000 fans, United's inaugural game in the four-team Premier League Summer Series on Saturday evening, just outside New York City, could be pivotal for Hojlund.
His performance may determine whether head coach Ruben Amorim continues to trust him as United's leading striker. Despite spending over £120m on forwards this summer, United is still in search of a reliable number nine, a position many believe they urgently need to fill.
Efforts to sign Liam Delap were thwarted as he chose Chelsea over United. On Friday, Amorim suggested that Hojlund remains his preferred choice for the role. But is he ready for the challenge?
In May, United finished 15th in the Premier League, their worst since their 1974 relegation. A Europa League final loss to Tottenham added to their woes. Amorim acknowledges the need for significant improvement, particularly in scoring, as they managed only 44 league goals last season.
Recently, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe met with chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox in Iceland, likely discussing the striker position. United's domestic market focus, driven by Amorim's preference for players familiar with the Premier League, led them to target Delap, but Chelsea secured him.
Alternative names have emerged, including Viktor Gyokeres, who was considered a target due to his success with Amorim at Sporting. However, Gyokeres is heading to Arsenal. Nicolas Jackson has been linked with United, though no serious pursuit has occurred. Aston Villa dismissed a link to Ollie Watkins, but United might test their resolve.
Watkins' situation is intriguing as he fell down Villa's pecking order following Marcus Rashford's loan arrival. Would a costly Watkins, with 75 goals in 184 Premier League games, be a better option than the inconsistent yet talented Jackson from Chelsea?
Man Utd's Need to Raise Funds
Former Everton striker Moise Kean, rejuvenated in Serie A with Fiorentina, Randal Kolo Muani, and Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta are all potentially available. RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is also an option, though Newcastle seems a more likely destination for the Slovakian.
There are also wildcard possibilities, such as out-of-contract forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jamie Vardy. However, none come without risk, and United's funds are limited with numerous weaknesses to address.
Amorim highlighted the need for more energy in midfield after a goalless draw with Leeds in Stockholm. While not explicitly mentioning other issues, others have pointed out concerns with the goalkeeper, central defense, and the right-sided wing-back role.
Not all issues can be resolved in one transfer window. It's conceivable that 12 months from now, Amorim, if still in position, will continue to tackle existing and emerging flaws. Funds are crucial, and United must generate more.
They have potentially raised around £30m through sell-ons for Alvaro Carreras, Anthony Elanga, and Maxi Oyedele, alongside Rashford's wage coverage through his Barcelona loan. However, more is needed.
Rashford is among five players Amorim has sidelined, alongside Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia. Further funds could be raised by selling these players, but Amorim insists they won't be sold cheaply.
Garnacho could command a substantial fee, though not the £60m initially hoped for. He may be crucial, especially if Chelsea revisits their interest from January. Meanwhile, Amorim must maximize his current resources.
The Case for Sticking with Hojlund
In Sweden against Leeds, 18-year-old Chido Obi started but appears to be more of an impact player. Hojlund took over in the second half, working hard but lacking the service a forward desires. Despite his efforts, he didn't score.
Hojlund has scored 26 goals in 95 appearances over two years at United, averaging a goal every four games. This includes productive spells of five goals in four games last season and eight in eight the previous campaign. However, excluding these periods, his record is 13 goals in 83 appearances, or over six games per goal, which is insufficient.
The question remains whether Hojlund can extend his productive spells or if they distort the overall picture. On Friday, Amorim seemed to maintain faith in the 22-year-old, who cost United £72m from Atalanta in 2023.
In Chicago, United's head coach expressed satisfaction with his current squad, acknowledging no guarantees of further signings. He also noted that his attacking reinforcements, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, could play as forwards, in addition to their number 10 roles.
Amorim suggested captain Bruno Fernandes might operate deeper, away from the coveted number 10 spots, to exploit his quality on the ball, particularly with the threat of players like Hojlund, Matheus, and Bryan.
Metadata:
xml