Napoli have made an initial approach for Rasmus Hojlund and Manchester United have responded by slapping a £50million price tag on the striker.
Hojlund, 22, has endured a difficult second season with the Red Devils, managing just three league goals while failing to register a single assist in his 24 appearances within the English top flight.
The Denmark international went 21 games without hitting the goal across any competitions, a desperate run stretching back to mid-December, before he finally netted in United’s 3-0 win at Leicester last weekend.
Questions and speculation over Hojlund’s future on the Theatre of Dreams intensified further still when United’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, publicly questioned the £64m sum the club forked out to sign the teen earlier this month.
‘If you happen to take a look at the players we’re buying, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying [Andre] Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying [Jadon] Sancho,’ Ratcliffe told BBC Sport.
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‘These are all things from the past, whether we prefer it or not, we’ve inherited those things and must sort that out.’
The likes of Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville have also been outspoken with their criticism of Hojlund during his recent struggles and it’s understood the Dane has effectively been put ‘on trial’ until the tip of the season.
In accordance with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hojlund could possibly be set to return to Serie A in the summertime, just two years on from his high-profile transfer to United from Atalanta.
It’s claimed Napoli are ‘desperately on the lookout for goals’ to support Romelu Lukaku up front and Hojlund is firmly of their sights, in addition to Udinese centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca.
Napoli have all but confirmed qualification for next season’s Champions League and club bosses recognise that Antonio Conte needs help constructing a squad able to competing in Europe’s premier competition.
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Strengthening Conte’s attacking options has been identified because the priority in Naples following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s departure for Paris Saint-Germain in January. Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, is predicted to follow the Georgian out the exit door at the tip of the season.
The report suggests United can be open to selling Hojlund to assist balance the books and the Old Trafford giants have set an asking price of €60m (£50m) for the goal-shy forward.
Napoli would not have the funds to give you the chance to compete at this price range but talks are of their initial stages and the Serie A outfit will try and drive this sum down over the approaching months.
Lucca, Udinese’s top goalscorer this season, represents a far cheaper option for Napoli, with the 24-year-old Italy international said to be available for a fee of between €35-40m (£29-33.5m).
Hojlund will hope to return from the international break with a renewed sense of vigour and Amorim backed the forward to just do that after he finally ended his goal drought against Leicester.
‘It’s a difficult goal, a difficult control with the suitable foot, so it’s a shame we’re going to stop for the national teams,’ the United head coach told reporters.
‘But he’ll return with confidence. It’s also only one win away and we now have to proceed once we return.
‘His goal was really good, really good control, together with his right foot after which [Alejandro] Garnacho, he can be all the time attempting to rating a goal. He deserved that feeling.’
Hojlund’s current contract with United, which he signed upon arrival from Atalanta, runs through to 2028.
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