Manchester United are reported to have signed Rasmus Hojlund instead of launching an approach for Aston Villa and England forward Ollie Watkins last year.

Hojlund was raw and largely unproven when United struck a surprise £72m deal with Atalanta, having scored just 27 senior club goals at that time.

Just over a year later, he remains almost as raw and only slightly more proven. His 16 goals across all competitions last season offered promise as a bulldozer in the Erling Haaland mould, particularly when he netted in six consecutive Premier League appearances straight after Christmas.

But, at the age of 21, he bears enormous pressure as the squad’s only true striker – Marcus Rashford prefers to operate from the left, while Joshua Zirkzee often drops deeper. Hojlund has also been compromised by frustrating injuries, arriving with a back problem, seeing his purple patch in February end because of a muscle issue, and missing the start of 2024/25 because of his hamstring.

Ultimately, Hojlund is a work in progress yet to realise his potential and it may still take time.

ESPN writes that United went for Hojlund, in part, because of that potential. Watkins was an alternative target “seriously under consideration”, until it was decided that the young Dane offered better value for money in the long-term due to being seven years younger.

Watkins appeared to be the ‘here and now’ option, the kind United went for in 2012 with Robin van Persie. The England international, turning 29 this December, had scored 15 Premier League goals for Aston Villa during the 2022/23 campaign and improved to 19 last season after United passed on him. He also contributed 13 assists in the league – for reference, Hojlund got two.

It doesn’t make Hojlund a bad player or a bad signing, certainly not compared to other expensive Old Trafford arrivals like Antony or Mason Mount – both of whom have achieved very little in a United shirt. But it does raise questions about the club’s judgement when it comes to recruitment strategy and transfer priorities. Harry Kane was also dismissed as a target, with staff deciding the England captain wouldn’t be able to press in an Erik ten Hag system. Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen were considered but not pursued either. All were more suitable for quick ‘plug and play’.

It was recently reported that new sporting director Dan Ashworth has conducted a review of United’s recruitment department and transfer operations since the summer, soon finding “shortcomings”.