Alan Shearer gives one word verdict on Hojlund as he says he was never ready for Man Utd

Rasmus Hojlund looks "damaged" at Manchester United and is suffering from a "crisis of confidence" says Alan Shearer.

United are reportedly ready to offload striker Hojlund this summer, with manager Ruben Amorim frustrated by the player's lackluster performances.

The 22-year-old Dane, described as "damaged" by pundit Shearer, has struggled in his second season at Old Trafford, scoring just one goal in 2025.

This follows a £64m (potentially rising to £72m) transfer from Atalanta in 2023, but Hojlund’s meager return has led Amorim to greenlight his sale, signaling the end of his tenure at the club.

The decision comes after United’s disappointing 1-0 defeat against Wolves, where Hojlund, again leading the line with Joshua Zirkzee injured, failed to capitalize on chances.

This marked United’s third goalless outing in their last four Premier League matches, underscoring their scoring woes.

Shearer, a former England striker, criticized Hojlund’s readiness to lead United’s attack, stating, “I’m looking at a damaged player in Hojlund. I think he wasn’t ready and isn’t ready to lead the line at a club like Manchester United.”

Shearer highlighted Hojlund’s crisis of confidence, noting his mistimed runs and lack of presence in key moments.

Amorim, aware of United’s striker shortage, has identified the lack of a reliable forward as the squad’s most pressing issue.

Despite Hojlund’s struggles, interest from Italian clubs remains strong, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano noting that Serie A sides have inquired about the player in April, sensing an opportunity for a return to Italy.

Rudy Galetti confirmed United’s openness to offers, with the club prepared to cut their losses on the underperforming striker.

United’s attacking reinforcements are already in sight, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, 22, emerging as a key target. Delap’s release clause, set at £40m but potentially dropping to £30m if Ipswich are relegated, makes him an attractive option to replace Hojlund.

Amorim’s exasperation was evident post-Wolves, as he remarked, “If we don’t score goals, nothing matters,” reflecting his urgency to address United’s attacking deficiencies.