Manchester United have reportedly submitted a “letter of interest” in young Danish striker Rasmus Højlund, dubbed ‘the next Haaland’, as a number of clubs are said to have begun circling.
Rasmus Højlund is only 20 years old but has already started to attract the attention of United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and more this season, as the youngster looks like he could be one of the brightest new talents in world football.
The promising centre-forward currently plays his club football for Serie A side Atalanta after joining them last summer, registering eight goals and three assists in 28 appearances (just 16 starts), but it’s also his performances for Denmark that have seen comparisons drawn to Erling Haaland.
Scoring five goals in just two games during the previous international break, one of which was an impressive hattrick against fellow Nordic nation Finland, both Danish and Italian press have teased that he could be ‘the next Haaland‘ and it looks like United aren’t wanting to miss out on this one.
#mufc, along with Real Madrid, have made an initial enquiry to Atalanta about Rasmus Hojlund's availability this summer. He could be available for £60m. [@DiscoMirror] pic.twitter.com/AgqFFQyhUn
As per Danish outlet B.T., “some of the biggest clubs in the world are courting” the in-demand Dane (as many as five thus far if rumours are to be believed) but United and Real Madrid are said to be the only two that “have concretely shown their interest in the form of a so-called letter of interest”.
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Nevertheless, whilst nothing firm has materialised as yet — with Højlund still without an agent and only likely to entertain another move once he has new representation — this preliminary approach has been described as a “clear indication that the two giants have big thoughts about the Danish golden boy”.
According to the Mirror, it would seem that United now have a three-man shortlist when it comes to their search for a centre-forward, with Højlund said to be just behind the likes of Harry Kane and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, both of which have been linked with moves to Old Trafford.
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It’s been suggested that his signature would cost around £60 million this summer, which might sound like a lot for someone still so young, but with 14 goals and six assists in 36 games across all competitions this season for Atlanta and former club Sturm Graz, you can see why clubs are interested.
Highlight reels like this make the ‘next Haaland’ sound less over the top.
Moreover, it isn’t just these impressive early stats that has seen him slapped with the ‘Haaland 2.0’ tag; hailing from a fellow Scandinavian country doesn’t hurt and nor does a quick turn pace plus his six-foot-two stature — natural attributes that are only further complimented by his apparent finishing ability.
In fact, not only did his coach Gian Piero Gasperini say there are lots of similarities “especially in acceleration… low centre of gravity and an incredible stride frequency”, but even Højlund himself has compared himself to the Norwegian striking sensation in the past.
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Lastly, it’s no secret that United are in need of a proper number nine and, equally, the forward said back in January that he “can’t hide the fact that [he is] a huge Manchester United fan” and that a move “would be one of the biggest things for me”.
Would you like to see ‘the next Haaland’ up front for United, Reds, or do you want a more proven talent?
Featured Image — Rasmus Højlund/Erling Haaland (via Instagram)
Sport
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
20th April 2023 
