The player told me it’s only Manchester United or nothing”: Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano reveals player has rejected Arsenal transfer to join Manchester United- Agreement has been reached already
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was mere centimetres away from netting a potentially crucial goal in last month’s Europa League final, having seen his goalbound header denied by a simply remarkable acrobatic clearance from Micky van de Ven.
The suggestion from TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist that the Dane could have done better with that attempt appeared distinctly harsh, with his colleague, Darren Fletcher, perhaps putting his best when suggesting that the 22-year-old might be the “most unlucky number nine” that the Red Devils have ever had, following his disallowed goal on the final day against Aston Villa.
Whether it is the fault of the £64m man, or due to the wider problems of the team, he simply hasn’t kicked on in a United shirt as expected, with the player who ran Galatasaray ragged in October 2023 having hardly been seen since.
Short of quality and confidence, Hojlund ended 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions, having only netted four times in the Premier League, while missing just six ‘big chances’.
That latter statistic illustrates that the ex-Atalanta starlet isn’t necessarily wayward in front of goal, albeit the lack of opportunities created perhaps points to the lack of trust in him from his teammates – something which was said to be an issue at the tail-end of the previous campaign.
Having ended the 2023/24 season as the club’s top scorer, there is a player in there somewhere. The issue is, United’s patience appears to have – rightly – worn thin.
Man Utd’s search to replace Rasmus Hojlund
While Hojlund may be keen to stay and prove himself at Old Trafford, a return to Italy does appear the most likely outcome, with Champions League finalists Inter Milan reportedly ready to bring him back to Serie A.
With one number nine seemingly on his way, another could be set to arrive in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, albeit with the Swede currently in a public dispute with Sporting CP over his future, amid the suggestion that the club have rowed back on their willingness to let him leave for around €70m (£59m) this summer.
Things are getting messy in Lisbon, it would seem, hence why United’s newly crowned sporting director, Jason Wilcox, must continue to consider alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that talks have been held between the club and the representatives of Juventus striker, Dusan Vlahovic.
The suggestion is that the Serbian’s agents reached out to Wilcox and co in order to try and engineer move, with the 25-year-old believed to be prioritising a Premier League switch.
While the report does state that the former Fiorentina man is not deemed to be a ‘priority target’ for Ruben Amorim, the contact was said to be ‘positive’, ensuring the Premier League outfit could return to the table later down the line.
Amorim, it would seem, might have his heart set on a reunion with Gyokeres, although Vlahovic would surely be the next best thing. Oh, and he might be available for just €30m (£26m).
How Vlahovic compares to Viktor Gyokeres
The ‘definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’, with United perhaps wary of dipping into the Serie A market for a third successive summer in order to sign a new striker.
Indeed, 2023 saw Erik ten Hag plump for Hojlund, despite the then 20-year-old having scored just nine league goals for Atalanta the year prior. A year later, the Dutchman then forked out £36.5m for Joshua Zirkzee, a player who had netted just 11 times in Serie A for Bologna in 2023/24.
The result? Two goal-shy, albeit talented figures who scored just seven league goals between them for United last time out, with there certainly a fear that Vlahovic could continue the trend, having actually only scored ten Serie A goals last season – plus a further five in all competitions.
The difference is, Vlahovic’s work prior to that is reason for excitement, having scored 81 top-flight goals, across his time in Turin and Florence, since the start of 2020/21, with a further six strikes coming the year before that for his former employers.
It is for that reason that, much like Gyokeres, he has been hailed as a “goal machine” by scout Antonio Mango, with writer Emmet Gates also tipping him to be a “generational talent” in the past.
A hulking, brute of a striker at 6 foot 4, the Serbian star truly is an imposing focal point at the top end of the pitch, a trait he shares with the 6 foot 2 Gyokeres.
While the latter man may be the “hottest striker in Europe” right now, as per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, following his haul of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, the Swede certainly boasts similar traits to his Juventus counterpart.
That is particularly seen in their ability to score out of nothing from range, with both men possessing a cannon of a stronger foot. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed Gyokeres as a “ball-striking monster”, while Sky Sports’ Nick Wright has described Vlahovic as ‘dangerous from long distance’.
Such quality is evidenced by the fact that both men have taken on free-kick duties of late, with Vlahovic scoring four between 2022/23 and 2023/24, while Gyokeres netted three in 2024/25 alone, as per Transfermarkt.
As alluded to in the case of Hojlund, United are in desperate need of a striker who can conjure up a moment of magic on their own, with neither Vlahovic nor Gyokeres particularly reliant on the service around them.
That said, both can provide that poacher’s instinct when required too, with the Juve sensation ranking in the top 10% of strikers across Europe for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref, while the former Coventry City man ranks in the top 15% in that regard.
While Vlahovic may be a left-footer, unlike Gyokeres, the pair are both a force to be reckoned with, with the Belgrade-born star’s consistency at the elite level over a number of seasons certainly to be admired.
Yes, he may not be the leading target for Amorim and Wilcox, although if prising Gyokeres from Lisbon proves too great of a task, then they may have already opened the door to the next best thing.
Manchester United’s search for a **marquee number nine** continues to intensify — and the path forward is becoming clearer as the club faces harsh truths about **Rasmus Højlund** and **Viktor Gyökeres**, while **Dusan Vlahovic** emerges as a strong, pragmatic alternative.
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## 🔻 **Rasmus Højlund: Time Almost Up?**
* Finished 2024/25 with **just 10 goals in all competitions**, including **only 4 in the Premier League**.
* Missed only six “big chances,” suggesting he isn’t wasteful — but lacks service, confidence, or chemistry with teammates.
* Dubbed “the most unlucky number nine” by Darren Fletcher after his **Europa League final header** was heroically cleared by Van de Ven.
* Despite ending 2023/24 as United’s top scorer, **United’s patience has worn thin**.
* A move to **Inter Milan** is increasingly likely, offering him a return to Serie A and Champions League football.
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## ❌ **Viktor Gyökeres: Deal Turning Sour**
* Scored **54 goals and 13 assists** for Sporting CP in 2024/25 — elite numbers.
* However:
* **Wants to play Champions League football** (not offered at United).
* In a **stand-off with Sporting**, who are **pulling back** from an earlier willingness to sell for €70m (£59m).
* Arsenal remain favourites; Juventus also interested.
* United **remain attentive** but could end up on the outside again.
* Ruben Amorim’s preference for players *committed* to United makes a reluctant target like Gyökeres less ideal.
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## 🧭 **Dusan Vlahovic: Underrated & Overlooked?**
* **Available for €30m (£26m)** — a *bargain* in today’s market.
* Has scored **87 goals in Italy since 2019**, including 81 since the start of 2020/21.
* 2024/25 tally: **10 league goals, 15 in all competitions** — decent but not blistering.
* **Agent has reached out** to United; club officials *open to talks* but he’s not currently a top priority for Amorim.
* Premier League is his **preferred destination**.
### 🎯 Key Attributes
| | Vlahovic | Gyökeres |
| ———— | —————————————————— | ————————————————- |
| Age | 25 | 27 |
| Height | 6’4″ | 6’2″ |
| 24/25 Goals | 15 | 54 |
| Style | Powerful finisher, long-range shooter, free-kick taker | Dynamic runner, brute strength, long-range threat |
| Market Value | £26m | £59m |
| Foot | Left | Right |
Both are **direct, physical, versatile**, and capable of scoring **out of nothing**, especially from range or free kicks.
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## 🧠 **Why Vlahovic Might Be the Smarter Move**
* He fits the profile of a striker who doesn’t need service to thrive — a quality **Højlund has lacked**.
* Proven over multiple seasons in Serie A, unlike **Højlund** and **Zirkzee**, who were gambles that underdelivered.
* **Cheaper than Gyökeres** by a wide margin, allowing budget to be spent on midfield or defence.
* May not have Gyökeres’ current form, but his ceiling is **still incredibly high**.
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## ⚽ Verdict
> **Gyökeres** might be the flashier target, but United can’t afford another drawn-out, Champions League-chasing saga.
> **Vlahovic**, at £26m, offers massive upside, immediate impact, and fewer obstacles.
> If United miss out on Gyökeres, they would be **foolish not to seal Vlahovic quickly**, especially with his camp already pushing for a move.
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Would you like a comparative scouting report or tactical breakdown of how Vlahovic would fit into **Amorim’s system** compared to Gyökeres?
