Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher disagree on Rasmus Hojlund amid Man United player concerns
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher disagree about what Manchester United should do to get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund. It comes after United players shared concerns about the striker's goalscoring abilities.
United signed Hojlund from Atalanta last summer in a deal worth £72 million. The striker has scored 14 goals in his debut season at Old Trafford but has struggled in recent weeks with just one goal in his last ten matches since returning from a muscle injury.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos Group are set to have their first summer transfer window since assuming control of footballing operations at United. As a result, there has been speculation about which players that could be signed, with rumours that a striker could be on the agenda.
Hojlund's future was the subject of debate on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football as Neville argued why United would be wise to sign a striker to give Hojlund a player to learn from in his second season with the Reds.
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"I think he’s [Hojlund] physical. I think he’s got a good mentality and is a good kid," said Neville.
"I think he’s playing in a struggling team in a difficult environment. He’s not the problem at Manchester United, he is someone to persevere with.
"If I was playing at Manchester United and he came into a squad 15-20 years ago, I would think there is something to work with there. That is the problem for Manchester United.
"Every player they have signed over the last 10 years has struggled, and for young players it has been difficult. I hope they can sign another striker in the summer. Not to support him, but to partner him, to mentor him, someone he can learn from."
The Manchester Evening News reported that United players had shared concerns about Hojlund's form and that some had taken steps to stop passing the ball to him in games as they looked to find an alternative solution to scoring goals.
The pundits on MNF dissected Hojlund's form and the runs he was making in games. Carragher was alongside Neville in the Sky Sports studio and disagreed with the United legend over his approach, explaining why the Reds signing a striker would damage Hojlund's long-term future at Old Trafford.
"I don’t think you can do that, Gary," said Carragher in response to Neville's comments. "I think he’s [Hojlund] gone there too soon. But if you bring a top striker in, you kill him.
"Once you have given him his first year, you almost have to give him his head again next season to see if he is up to it. To bring someone in again and he’s almost like a second striker, I think that makes it really difficult for him."