Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 7:17 PM• Wessel Antes • Last update: 19:56

Manchester United is trying to get Rasmus Højlund to Old Trafford through a creative construction. According to The Athletic Donny van de Beek has been used as a medium of exchange to lower the transfer fee for the Danish striker. La Dea however, is not waiting for the 26-year-old midfielder. An offer including Brazilian midfielder Fred has also been firmly rejected. Atalanta is clear: Højlund may only leave for United if the absolute top prize is transferred. In Bergamo, the twenty-year-old attack leader is still fixed until mid-2027, which gives the Italians a strong negotiating position.

Manager Erik ten Hag is doing everything he can to bring a super striker to Manchester this summer. However, United’s transfer budget is currently an obstacle. According to English reports, Højlund should cost around 100 million euros, but have it there the Red Devils not for long after the money. A large part of the budget has already been invested in the arrival of Mason Mount, who was bought from Chelsea for 65 million euros. The next million amount is reserved for André Onana, who has to come over quickly from Internazionale.

Due to the lack of financial resources, United thought to reduce the transfer fee for Højlund with superfluous midfielders, but Atalanta is not waiting for that. The six-time Danish international has also only been playing in Serie A since last summer, when he was picked up from Sturm Graz for 17.2 million euros. Since then he has been a real sensation in Italy. Højlund has scored 10 goals and 4 assists in 34 games for Atalanta and has shown himself to be a potential top striker.

Van de Beek
In any case, Van de Beek will not work for Atalanta, which does not think he is good enough for a significant role in Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia. The right leg from Nijkerkerveen was told by Ten Hag last week that he can look for a new challenge. Van de Beek is also currently not with United’s selection in Oslo, where the Red Devils dealt with Leeds United on Wednesday. At Old Trafford, the nineteen-time international is still fixed until mid-2025. What Van de Beek should cost is unknown, but Transfer market estimates its market value at around 13 million euros.