Napoli show their hand and moving in for Hojlund

Manchester United’s transfer window business — bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko — has made it clear to Rasmus Hojlund that he will not be a first-choice option this season and that the best move for him is to leave. He hasn’t even made the squad in the opening two rounds, and the Red Devils hope he will depart within the next seven days.

Napoli are eager for him to continue his career in Italy. The Neapolitans can’t wait any longer and have launched a final push to sign the Danish striker. Injuries to Romelu Lukaku, coupled with the hasty sales of Raspadori and Simeone, have disrupted their plans and forced them to look for a new No. 9.

Searching for Hojlund: Milan out, Napoli in

For now, Antonio Conte has only Lorenzo Lucca available as a traditional centre-forward, at least until Lukaku returns early next year. Since the Belgian’s injury, many names have been floated around Naples, but the final choice has fallen on Hojlund.

The only question is: does the Dane prefer a move to Naples or warming the bench — or the stands — at Old Trafford? Napoli are ready to pay heavily to bring him in.

The Italian champions are offering a paid loan worth 5 million euros with a fixed 40 million euros option to buy plus 5 million euros in bonuses. Under certain conditions (if he becomes a regular starter), that option would become an obligation. Altogether, the deal could cost Napoli up to 50 million euros.

They’ve also prepared an excellent personal package for the Danish forward, who currently earns around 80 thousand euros gross per week at Old Trafford (about 4.6 million euros annually). Napoli are offering him 4.5 million euros net per season — effectively double his current take-home pay.

A crucial meeting between Napoli director Giovanni Manna and United officials is scheduled for today. Both sides are optimistic of reaching an agreement, even though United had been holding out for around 60 million euros for the striker earlier in the window.

Hojlund has been linked with several clubs this summer — from Inter, Juventus, Roma, Leverkusen, Leipzig and Eintracht to Milan (still clinging to faint hopes after their failed move for Victor Boniface). But none of them have been as concrete or as generous in their pursuit as Napoli, especially after Lukaku’s injury.

Other forwards were offered to them by clubs and agents — Lois Openda (Leipzig), Tolu Arokodare (Genk), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al-Hilal), Andrea Pinamonti (Sassuolo) — but in the end the serious candidates narrowed down to Hojlund and Artem Dovbyk, whom Roma are trying to sell. With the Ukrainian now close to a move to Villarreal, Hojlund has emerged as Napoli’s only real solution.

Napoli and United are close to an agreement, and tonight the Italians will also meet with Hojlund’s agent. In recent days, Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay has even called his former teammate to explain the benefits of swapping Old Trafford for Naples.

Alongside Hojlund, Napoli are working on two more deals. They’ve been negotiating for weeks with Sevilla over right-back Juanlu Sanchez and hope to close the deal for 18 million euros. A return of Eljif Elmas from Leipzig is also on the table, on loan with either an option or obligation to buy.

But the top priority is Hojlund. And time is running out…