Man Utd plan Hojlund swap plus £33m for Napoli hitman this summer

Manchester United are reportedly contemplating a dramatic swap deal that could see struggling striker Rasmus Hojlund depart for Napoli this summer, just two years after his £72 million transfer from Atalanta.

The Danish forward, who has managed only two Premier League goals this season, has endured a torrid campaign, with his latest lacklustre performance in a substitute appearance against Arsenal drawing fresh scrutiny.

Hojlund’s woes have been compounded by criticism from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who, in a candid interview with Gary Neville, highlighted the financial burdens of players acquired before his arrival, specifically citing Hojlund’s deal as an example of the club’s precarious fiscal state.

Since joining United in the summer of 2022, Hojlund has scored a modest 23 goals across 80 appearances in all competitions, a return that has failed to justify his hefty price tag.

Ratcliffe, who assumed control of football operations in February 2024, warned that the club faces “financial peril” due to such transfer commitments, noting that United are still paying Atalanta in instalments for Hojlund.

This critique is part of Ratcliffe’s broader narrative of inherited mismanagement, though it conveniently sidesteps the role of the Glazer family, under whose ownership the club’s transfer strategy was shaped, raising questions about selective accountability.

In a bid to address their attacking deficiencies, United, under head coach Ruben Amorim, are reportedly prepared to offload Hojlund as part of a swap deal to secure Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in scintillating form, netting 23 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions this season. According to Calciomercato, United are willing to offer approximately £33.7 million plus Hojlund to bring the Nigerian international to Old Trafford, valuing Osimhen at around £65 million.

This move would allow United to avoid another significant cash outlay, aligning with Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting ethos, though it raises eyebrows given his simultaneous push for a £2 billion new stadium, highlighting potential contradictions in his financial strategy.

Hojlund’s struggles were epitomized in his cameo against Arsenal, where he failed to make an impact, prompting further criticism and fan frustration. Posts on social media platforms have captured his visible dejection, with one video showing him being consoled by former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel outside Old Trafford, underscoring the toll of his ongoing goal drought.

This deal, if completed, could see Hojlund return to Serie A, ironically during the same period United finalize the payment schedule for his original transfer, a bitter twist in his United tenure.