Danish striker linked to Man Utd says he is 'often compared to Hojlund'

A striker linked to Manchester United says he has been compared a lot to Rasmus Hojlund.

Conrad Harder though has distanced himself from the claims and is determined to carve out his own identity.

United have also been strongly linked with Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyokeres, particularly since Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford in November.

Gyokeres has flourished under Amorim, establishing himself as one of the world’s top strikers and playing a pivotal role in Sporting's Portuguese league triumph last season.

Recent reports from Spain suggest that United have also shown interest in Harder, who joined Sporting CP from Nordsjaelland last summer.

The 22-year-old Danish striker has already netted nine goals this season and signed a five-year deal with the Portuguese club.

Speaking to The Athletic in November, Harder addressed comparisons to his compatriot Hojlund, saying:"People compare a lot, especially with [Rasmus] Hojlund, who is also scoring goals now, but I don’t want to be one of them. I just want to be my own [man]. That is the way I think."

Harder moved to Sporting in a deal worth €19 million (around £15 million), with Amorim revealing at the time that a Premier League club offered more money for the forward. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano later identified Brighton as the unnamed club.

Amorim commented in September while still managing Sporting:"There was one Premier League club ready to pay a higher fee than us for Conrad Harder.

"They were also open to letting the player stay at Nordsjaelland until 2025 on loan, but he decided to join Sporting."

Manchester United are unlikely to make significant moves in the January transfer window due to financial constraints imposed by Premier League Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules.

However, the club’s ability to offload players could improve their financial position and allow for a major rebuild in the summer.

With Harder already making a strong impression at Sporting, United’s interest underscores the club’s continued focus on identifying emerging talents as part of their long-term strategy.