"He's going to be that physical striker" - Gabby Agbonlahor tips Manchester United star to become the next Erling Haaland
Gabby Agbonlahor has backed Manchester United new boy Rasmus Hojlund to become the new Erling Haaland.
Hojlund completed a £72 million move to Old Trafford earlier this summer from Atalanta. There have been some reservations over the forward's price tag, as he comes off a season that saw him manage 10 goals and four assists in 34 games across competitions.
However, Agbonlahor has huge hopes for the 20-year-old to impress at Manchester United. The former Premier League forward has even tipped Hojlund to follow in Haaland's footsteps, telling talkSPORT:
"I feel that from what I've seen from him he's the next Haaland. He's strong; he's quick; he can finish with both feet; he's good in the air, and he's good at link-up play."
The Danish frontman is the perfect candidate to take up the lone striker's role in Erik ten Hag's setup. He boasts a tall frame of 6-foot-3 but is pacey and has aknack for getting into the right positions.
He has a similar profile to Haaland, 23, who has set the world alight following his arrival at Manchester City. The Norweigan bagged an astounding 52 goals in 53 games during his debut season at the Etihad in 2022-23.
Agbonlahor was asked whether his lack of goals for Atalanta is concerning. He insists that Hojlund can flourish in a Red Devils side boasting the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount:
"I don't look at that (goals for Atalanta). I look at a young lad who is learning season by season and is gonna play in a better side.
"He's going to have the service of (Christian) Eriksen, Fernandes, Mount, Antony. He's going to be that physical striker that Manchester United need."
The Danish striker is also brilliant with the ball at his feet and boasted a passing success rate of 74.3% last season for Atalanta, per WhoScored. That bodes well for Ten Hag as he wants a frontman who can hold the ball up and feed others into play.
Haaland has shown throughout his short time at the Etihad that tall but speedy forwards can be a nuisance for defenders. However, Hojlund has some way to go in matching the prolific Manchester City frontman Haalan.
Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini reckons Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund shares similarities to Haaland
It's not just the two strikers' names that share similarities, as the duo have been compared by Hojlund's former manager.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said that the new Manchester United striker is a similar profile to City frontman Haaland (via The Mirror):
"He has very similar characteristics to Haaland, not just his face. He is so quick; he's under 11 seconds over 100m, and that's not even trying very hard.
"Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity and can move his legs very fast. I am convinced he’ll have a great career. He just gets stronger every day."
It appears that Manchester United may have a gem on their hands, but fans may need to be patient with the Dane. Comparisons with his new Premier League rival speak volumes of his bright future, but he's a work in progress and not the finished article Haaland has shown to be.