Ruben Amorim is targeting Benjamin Sesko as his next Manchester United signing and that could spell the end for Rasmus Hojlund, who has had a difficult stint at the club
Ruben Amorim said he cannot guarantee Rasmus Hojlund will stay at Manchester United next season – after the club made their move for Benjamin Sesko.
Hojlund scored the opener in United’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth at Chicago’s Soldier Field in the second game of their US pre-season tour. United have prioritised a a move for RB Leipzig’s £70million-rated striker Sesko, with Amorim admitting he cannot give Hojlund any guarantees over his future.
He said: “I’m really happy with Rasmus, but I don’t know what is going to happen until the end of the market. The important thing is that the strikers who are here are working really well, they are improving, they are helping the team and that’s the most important thing.
“The important thing is that Rasmus is scoring goals. He’s connecting really well with the team. He’s improving. Again, I don’t know what is going to happen until the market is closed. We suffered a a lot because of the lack of goals last season. But I think not just the goals, but the way Rasmus connects the play.
“Every time we have to kick the ball, we are kicking the ball when we are more pressed. The ability for him to hold the defender and to connect in the support is helping us to play a lot better and we are playing better because he’s playing better.
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“I’m really happy with the players that we had last season. They are improving. We look like a different team today. Let’s continue with that. I’m really happy with Bryan [Mbeumo], Matheus [Cunha], even Diego [Leon]. You can see it. He’s a smart guy. He’s a guy that came from Paraguay to come to the Premier League. He’s really powerful, so I’m really happy with the three guys.”
On United’s win, which came courtesy of goals from Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad and Ethan Williams, Amorim said: “I think it was a good game. I think we played with intensity. We were aggressive and that is something that we need to improve on in the last season.
“I think we had better possession compared to the last game, so the players are listening. Of course, scoring first in the beginning of the game can change the confidence of the team. We changed some positions and you feel that they know what to do in different positions. It was a good test.
“We controlled quite well the runs of Evanilson, Semenyo. One against one, Luke Shaw was also really strong. It was a good day. It was just a pre-season game. But the feeling with the same players, even being a pre-season game, if you look at the same players now playing, it looks like a different team and that is a good sign.
“More than the results, it’s the way they are playing. I think it’s really important. People cannot see that. I think they are playing better also because they are connecting better with each other. Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch.
“I think they are stronger, they are faster. In this moment, of course, it’s a pre-season. But you can see the intensity is completely different. I can see the data from the minutes are completely different.
“So we are improving. But again, it’s a pre-season game. The pressure is going to be so much different during the season. It’s important for them to understand that the same players can play a different game. I think today was a good day.”
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