Adrian Clarke looks at summer signings and what impact they will have at their new clubs.
Player analysis: Rasmus Hojlund (Man Utd)
Power, pace, clever movement and a natural fighting spirit are the key strengths of Manchester United’s new centre-forward Hojlund.
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The 20-year-old knows how to finish chances too, scoring 20 goals for club and country in 2022/23 for Sturm Graz, then Atalanta as well as Denmark.
With scope for development for Hojlund, Erik ten Hag has recruited a 6ft 3in striker who is ready to have a positive impact for United now, and for many years to come.
What sort of goals does he score?
He may not be the sharpest over three to five yards, but once Hojlund gets into his stride he is a very dynamic runner.
The Dane uses his speed to make up ground inside the box on a regular basis.
Will Rasmus Hojlund be available for Sunday? 👀#ARSMUN 🔜#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 1, 2023
Seven of Hojlund's 20 goals came from low crosses flashed into the six-yard box. He drives into those positions for a tap-in, and is especially dangerous from low left-wing crosses, with six of those seven stemming from that area.
Hojlund's type of goals 2022/23
| Type of goal | Total | Distance from goal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right foot | 11 | <6 yards | 9 |
| Left foot | 8 | 7-18 yards | 10 |
| Head | 1 | >18 yards | 1 |
Hojlund’s left foot has attracted plenty of attention across the last 12 months, but he is not a forward who relies on that quality alone.
In fact, the former Atalanta star scored three more goals with his right foot during last season. Most of his strikes came from close range, as the table above shows.
Staying central
Ten Hag has signed a striker who prefers to stay within the width of the 18-yard box.
He will venture into the wide channels on occasion – creating some assists from crosses and cutbacks – but generally he wants to occupy positions down the spine of the pitch.
As shown on this touch map from Opta Analyst, he is happy to receive passes around the edge of the box, often just outside the D.
Hojlund will often use himself as a target man for his Man Utd team-mates.
This pivot at the top end of the pitch was something they sorely missed for large periods of 2022/23.
A nose for chances
Still a little raw, but blessed with incredible potential, Hojlund has a natural instinct where chances will arise.
His angled runs are intelligent, often deceiving defenders by cutting across on their blind side, and inside the penalty area he has good anticipation.
As shown on the table below, his non-penalty Expected Goals (xG) per 90 minutes were among Serie A’s best in 2022/23.
Non-penalty xG in Serie A 2022/23
| Player | Non-penalty xG/90 |
|---|---|
| Victor Osimhen | 0.66 |
| Lautaro Martinez | 0.58 |
| Moise Kean | 0.57 |
| Edin Dzeko | 0.51 |
| Rasmus Hojlund | 0.46 |
Around some of the biggest names in Italian football, Hojlund proved he was capable of getting on the end of chances.
It will be music to the Hojlund’s ears that Man Utd's 477 open-play shots were more than any other Premier League side in 2022/23.
It is a big step up for him in terms of pressure and scrutiny - and he may need time to adapt – but in the long term it is hard to envisage Hojlund not becoming a big favourite at Old Trafford.