Rasmus Hojlund joined Napoli in a permanent move this summer, following last season's fruitful spell in the Serie A - but Manchester United may have short-changed themselves
Rasmus Hojlund joined Napoli in a ÂŁ43.2million move this summer, but Manchester United could have realistically charged ÂŁ66.8m more. That's if the experts' valuation of the Danish striker at present ring true.
There were big expectations from the 23-year-old when he made his way to Old Trafford from Atalanta in a deal worth up to ÂŁ72m back in 2023. However, Hojlund failed to live up to his price tag on English soil.
The forward showed signs of promise in his maiden season, scoring 10 Premier League goals from 30 appearances. However, 2024/25 was far less kind to Hojlund. In a season in which the Reds finished 15th overall, Hojlund scored just four times in 32 games, with strike partner, Joshua Zirkzee, only managing two in 24.
Despite being insistent on staying and fighting for his place at the Theatre of Dreams, the striker was ultimately shipped out on loan to Napoli for 2025/26, with Gli Azzuri holding an obligation to take him off United's hands permanently for just ÂŁ43.2m - dependent on conditions.
Given said terms were met, with Hojlund managing 12 goals and six assists in the Serie A alone, Napoli stuck to their end of the deal. And while many fans will believe that United completed a good bit of business with the move, recent stats from the CIES Football Observatory say otherwise.
The experts say that a fair value for Hojlund is ÂŁ110m at present, despite his shortcomings in Greater Manchester. When considering the financial capacity of the most-likely buyer, a range of 7.5% above and below a player's value is taken into account.
Add to that 100% of economic rights, including add-ons and the same level of inflation from the past two windows, and that is where the officials have found their figure. CIES also do not consider eventual buy-out clauses.
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Despite a sub-par stint in the Premier League, Hojlund still has time to develop as a player in his early 20s. And considering his remarkable tally in the Serie A last season, the striker could go on to attract interest from some of Europe's most prestigious clubs - should he carry in his current vein of form.
It comes as United could utilise some of the funds from the sale of Hojlund on a new striker of their own ahead of next month's transfer deadline. The Reds suffered a 2-0 loss to a newly-promoted Hull City away from home on Saturday afternoon, and failed to provide much in terms of an attacking threat for the duration.
Whether the result will spur INEOS to rethink their approach with very little time left to do business remains to be seen, with the club thought to be prioritising a move for another central midfielder and a left-back.
Rasmus Hojlund joined Napoli in a ÂŁ43.2million move this summer, but Manchester United could have realistically charged ÂŁ66.8m more. That's if the experts' valuation of the Danish striker at present ring true.
There were big expectations from the 23-year-old when he made his way to Old Trafford from Atalanta in a deal worth up to ÂŁ72m back in 2023. However, Hojlund failed to live up to his price tag on English soil.
The forward showed signs of promise in his maiden season, scoring 10 Premier League goals from 30 appearances. However, 2024/25 was far less kind to Hojlund. In a season in which the Reds finished 15th overall, Hojlund scored just four times in 32 games, with strike partner, Joshua Zirkzee, only managing two in 24.
Despite being insistent on staying and fighting for his place at the Theatre of Dreams, the striker was ultimately shipped out on loan to Napoli for 2025/26, with Gli Azzuri holding an obligation to take him off United's hands permanently for just ÂŁ43.2m - dependent on conditions.
Given said terms were met, with Hojlund managing 12 goals and six assists in the Serie A alone, Napoli stuck to their end of the deal. And while many fans will believe that United completed a good bit of business with the move, recent stats from the CIES Football Observatory say otherwise.
The experts say that a fair value for Hojlund is ÂŁ110m at present, despite his shortcomings in Greater Manchester. When considering the financial capacity of the most-likely buyer, a range of 7.5% above and below a player's value is taken into account.
Add to that 100% of economic rights, including add-ons and the same level of inflation from the past two windows, and that is where the officials have found their figure. CIES also do not consider eventual buy-out clauses.
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Despite a sub-par stint in the Premier League, Hojlund still has time to develop as a player in his early 20s. And considering his remarkable tally in the Serie A last season, the striker could go on to attract interest from some of Europe's most prestigious clubs - should he carry in his current vein of form.
It comes as United could utilise some of the funds from the sale of Hojlund on a new striker of their own ahead of next month's transfer deadline. The Reds suffered a 2-0 loss to a newly-promoted Hull City away from home on Saturday afternoon, and failed to provide much in terms of an attacking threat for the duration.
Whether the result will spur INEOS to rethink their approach with very little time left to do business remains to be seen, with the club thought to be prioritising a move for another central midfielder and a left-back.
