Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series last month was notable because Rasmus Hojlund sought out UK journalists post-match to state – firmly – his intention to remain at Old Trafford.
Hojlund did not know it at the time, but that game in Chicago could well end up being the final one he starts for United.
With a £74m move from RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko pending – and finally completed on 9 August – Hojlund featured for 18 minutes in the final tour game against Everton.
After that, he was an unused substitute against Fiorentina at Old Trafford and has not been involved in either of United’s two Premier League games so far.
It is anticipated Serie A champions Napoli will renew their push for the Denmark forward this week as a replacement for the injured Romelu Lukaku, who is set to miss four months with a thigh issue.
What United boss Ruben Amorim did not know as he spoke after the Bournemouth match was the problems his side would have scoring goals in open play.
Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham, after an opening 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, means United’s only strike so far this season is an own goal by Rodrigo Muniz.
They have played four games since that night in Chicago and scored four times – a penalty, two own goals and a single effort from open play, in Mason Mount’s well-worked effort against Everton.
United might lament their inability to leave Craven Cottage with three points but that is chiefly centred around another penalty, which Bruno Fernandes sent high over the bar.
As Fulham boss Marco Silva pointedly remarked: “In the second half, their best chances were set-pieces, nothing more.”
It is probably not what Amorim would have expected after a summer outlay of £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Sesko.
