Rasmus Højlund could well be the solution for Man Utd  

Manchester United's pursuit of Atalanta's Rasmus Højlund could become a viable option if manager Erik ten Hag takes a gamble with his midfield choices. The team's recent pre-season match against Leeds showcased the talents of Ten Hag's young guns, with 16 youth players featuring in the game, including standout performances from Kobbie Mainoo and Isak Hansen-Aarøen.

Mainoo, operating in the deepest midfield role during the first half, impressed with his ability to link play between the defense and attack. His contribution was instrumental in United's success against the Championship side. In the second half, Hansen-Aarøen played a more attacking role and made a significant impact, providing an assist for the opening goal with a perfectly executed through-ball to Noam Emeran.

As United focuses on strengthening their squad during the transfer market, the club is targeting a second midfielder and a first-team striker. Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina has been consistently linked with United, and the club is expected to pursue the midfielder once they have the necessary time to concentrate on a midfield signing.

However, some argue that signing a striker should be the highest priority for the team. Apart from the impending arrival of André Onana, United lacks a reliable source of goals and requires a prominent striker to lead the line and convert opportunities.

The stumbling block in the pursuit of Højlund is Atalanta's asking price, which United appears hesitant to meet. The Italian club is demanding a fee of £50-55 million for their talented young striker, while United has had a £35 million bid rejected. However, if Erik ten Hag is willing to trust Mainoo and Hansen-Aarøen to contribute in minor fixtures, the acquisition of Amrabat may become unnecessary. This would free up funds for United to secure the signings of both Højlund and Onana, effectively addressing the team's key areas of need.

Mainoo and Hansen-Aarøen are expected to feature in United's upcoming pre-season fixture against Lyon, and if they continue to impress at a similar level or higher, they could secure a spot on the plane for United's pre-season tour in the USA. This would further demonstrate their potential and strengthen the argument for United to invest in promising young talents rather than pursuing expensive transfers.