Christian Pulisic has seen plenty of movement in the AC Milan squad ahead of the 2025-26 season, including key departures alongside star arrivals like Luka Modric. As the team continues to maneuver in the summer transfer window, the Rossoneri could face a setback, with Napoli reportedly entering the race for a $90M Manchester United target.
With the exits of players such as Alvaro Morata and Luka Jovic, and now Rafael Leao sidelined with an injury sustained in the Coppa Italia, Milan’s frontline has been drastically reduced. Currently, only Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez remain as natural attacking options. These developments have forced Milan to prioritize signing a striker this summer—but now they face competition for one of their top targets.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Napoli have made direct contact with Manchester United regarding a potential loan deal for Rasmus Hojlund. The Serie A champions, dealing with Romelu Lukaku’s preseason injury and an estimated three-month recovery, are eager to reinforce their attack, prompting coach Antonio Conte to pursue a striker.
Romano reports that Milan have been negotiating for the Danish striker in recent weeks. The Italian side appeared close to finalizing a deal, reportedly offering a €6M loan fee with a €45M buy option. Napoli’s sudden involvement, however, could alter the negotiations.
BBC Sport notes that Hojlund joined Manchester United from Atalanta in 2023 for £72M (around $90.5M at the time). Despite the hefty fee, the Danish striker has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford. With Benjamin Sesko now first in line as United’s striker, Hojlund appears likely to return to Italy in search of playing time.
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Hojlund faces limited opportunities at Manchester United
After starting in preseason games, Hojlund has seen his role reduced with the arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. His potential departure became clearer when he was omitted from Manchester United’s squad for the Premier League opener against Arsenal.
When asked if the club had decided to move Hojlund, coach Ruben Amorim offered a measured response. “No, it’s a fight for a places. We’ll see what’s going to happen on the transfer market. Rasmus has the same characteristics as Benjamin Sesko, so sometimes we need to choose,” he said in the post-match press conference.
