Rasmus Højlund’s Future at Manchester United: Juventus Interested in Danish Striker

Could Rasmus Højlund’s Time at Manchester United Be Coming to an End?

Hey there, football fans! It’s Adam Brown here, bringing you the latest buzz from the world of soccer. Today, we’re diving into the intriguing situation surrounding Rasmus Højlund, the Danish striker who has been having a tough time at Manchester United. Could his stint at Old Trafford be nearing its conclusion? Well, it seems like Juventus is eyeing him as they look to revamp their attacking lineup. Let’s explore the latest transfer news, rumors, and gossip from around the globe.

First up, let’s talk about Rasmus Højlund. The 22-year-old Denmark international has been struggling to find the back of the net, scoring just three goals in 27 Premier League appearances this season. It’s been a challenging period for him at Manchester United, and now, Juventus is reportedly interested in bringing him to Italy. According to Calciomercato, the Bianconeri are studying a potential move for Højlund, especially with uncertainty surrounding the future of Dusan Vlahovic and the decision on whether to sign on-loan Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani permanently.

But wait, there’s more! Højlund isn’t just on Juventus’ radar. Napoli is also keeping an eye on the young striker, which adds another layer of intrigue to this transfer saga. With his current form at Manchester United, a change of scenery might be just what Højlund needs to reignite his career.

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Trending Rumors

Now, let’s shift gears and talk about some other exciting transfer rumors making the rounds. Clubs in the Saudi Pro League are reportedly eyeing Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior for a potential move this summer. According to Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg, negotiations have been ongoing, and if Vinícius does make the move, Real Madrid might look to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland as a replacement. This could also see Kylian Mbappé shifting to the left-flank from his current central role.

Real Madrid is also keen on strengthening their defense, with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté on their radar. The LaLiga club is prioritizing improving their backline, and Konaté could be a potential option if he doesn’t sign a new deal at Anfield next season. Additionally, Arsenal’s William Saliba has been linked with a move to the Bernabéu.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace is reportedly interested in on-loan Aston Villa striker Marcus Rashford. The Eagles are keeping tabs on the 27-year-old and could explore a move if he doesn’t sign permanently at Villa Park from Manchester United in the summer. Rashford has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, and a potential return to Manchester United hasn’t been ruled out.

In other news, Liverpool forward Luis Díaz is being targeted by Saudi club Al Nassr, where he could link up with Cristiano Ronaldo. Díaz has had an impressive season with 11 goals and five assists in the Premier League, helping Liverpool move within touching distance of the title. With a little over two years remaining on his contract, Liverpool could command a significant transfer fee for the Colombian international.

Lastly, AFC Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen is reportedly keen on a return to Spain, with Real Madrid tracking his progress alongside several big Premier League clubs. The Spain international has a £50 million release clause in his contract at Bournemouth.

Expert Take

ESPN’s Alex Kirkland considers the possibility of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland replacing Vinícius Júnior at Real Madrid:

Vinícius Júnior leaving Real Madrid for Saudi Arabia has been one of the most high-profile transfer sagas of the last 12 months. Take a Ballon d’Or runner-up, playing for one of the world’s top clubs, and add one of the sport’s biggest stories — the growing power of the Saudi Pro League — and you’ve got the perfect transfer cocktail. So why not throw another superstar, Erling Haaland into the mix?

ESPN reported last week that a move for Vinícius is “increasingly unlikely.” There’s been no contact between the Brazil international’s camp and the Saudis since December, and the Pro League’s lead in those talks, then vice-chairman Saad Al Lazeez, has since moved on. In the meantime, talks between Vinícius and Madrid over a new contract have tentatively begun, with each party making an initial proposal in what’s likely to be a drawn-out, protracted negotiation that stretches into the summer.

But they’re a long way from closing a deal — ESPN has reported that Vinícius is in “no hurry” with his current contract running until 2027 — and that means there’s still room for another, unexpected twist in the saga. The 24-year-old’s indifferent form for much of this season hasn’t helped his case for a bumper new deal, and there’s no doubt that the forward has been superseded by Kylian Mbappé as the team’s leading star in the eyes of many, both inside and outside the club.

Where does Haaland fit into all this? Well, he’s a player who has been monitored by Madrid for a long time. They were one of the clubs visited by his father and agent in 2021, before opting to join City. ESPN reported in 2022 that Madrid were open to the possibility of bringing both Mbappé and Haaland to the Bernabéu. And there’s some logic to the idea of Vinícius departing, switching Mbappé to the left, and bringing in a more orthodox centre-forward to play through the middle.

But Haaland’s long-term contract at City would pose a problem, as would the player’s wage demands. And if Madrid have struggled to find balance to a team containing Mbappé, Vinícius, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes this season, would swapping Vinícius for Haaland help much? Or would it only exacerbate their problems? Vinícius’ work-rate on the left has been scrutinised, and found wanting, this season, as the side have struggled defensively. Playing Mbappé on the wing wouldn’t be an upgrade.

Madrid president Florentino Pérez might dream about the idea of uniting Mbappé and Haaland, but there are significant obstacles to making it happen. And good luck to the coach — whether it’s Carlo Ancelotti or his successor — who would have to make it all work.

Other Rumors

• Tottenham Hotspur have three Premier League managers on their shortlist as potential replacements for Ange Postecoglou, with Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, and AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola all being considered. (Mirror)
• Inter Milan are willing to pay a €29 million transfer fee to sign Marseille winger Luis Henrique, but they face competition from Bayern Munich. (Sky Sport Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg)
• A return to the Premier League is on the cards for Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha, who isn’t in manager Vincent Kompany’s future plans. Clubs in England’s top flight are watching his situation. (Bild’s Christian Falk)
• Lyon and Georgia international forward Georges Mikautadze is on the radar of West Ham United. (Ekrem Konur)
• Barcelona are close to reaching an agreement over a new contract with midfielder Marc Bernal. (Sport)
• Everton and Marseille are set to battle for the signature of Rangers forward Hamza Igamane. (TEAMtalk)
• Celtic are unlikely to move forward with an approach to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka due to the recent form of current starter Kasper Schmeichel. (Football Insider)
• Talks are ongoing regarding a deal for Bayer Leverkusen and Ukraine youth international striker Artem Stepanov to join FC Nurnberg on loan next season. (Sky Sport Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg)
• Talks over a new contract between Arsenal and winger Bukayo Saka, with the Gunners closing in on a five-year deal that will secure the 23-year-old at the Emirates Stadium until the summer of 2030. (Nicolò Schira)
• Galatasaray insist they want to keep Victor Osimhen, who has scored 29 goals in 33 games during his season-long loan from Napoli, beyond this summer. (AS)
• Theo Hernández is set to enter the final year of his contract at AC Milan in the summer but wants to remain at the club and sign a new deal despite interest from the Saudi Pro League. (Calciomercato)
• Arsenal have no plans to sign Raheem Sterling on a permanent deal when his season-long loan from Chelsea ends this summer. (Football Insider)
• Genoa coach Patrick Vieira has denied reports that he has held talks with Roma to become their next manager, with Claudio Ranieri having already announced his intention to step down at the end of the season. (Sky Sports Italia)
• Joaquín Caparrós has returned to guide Sevilla for a fourth time to replace Javier García Pimienta, who was sacked following Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Valencia, Sevilla’s fourth straight league loss. (Sevilla FC)