Man Utd suffer Rasmus Hojlund transfer blow - and Erik ten Hag is to blame

Rasmus Hojlund has found himself out of favour at Manchester United following the arrival of Benjamin Sesko but a potential exit route for the Dane may have closed

Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their efforts to cash in on Rasmus Hojlund this summer. Danish striker Hojlund has been a target for AC Milan, with United hoping for a chunky transfer fee, but the Rossoneri have moved onto another target.

Curiously, former United boss Erik ten Hag has played a part. Milan are closing in on Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, who has spent the last two years at a Bayer Leverkusen side who now have Ten Hag in the dugout.

According to BBC Sport, Milan are set to bring in the 24-year-old on loan, with an option to make the move permanent. Reports elsewhere put the option at around £26m - significantly less than United's asking price for Hojlund.

Boniface scored 21 times in all competitions in the 2023-24 season as he helped Leverkusen win a league and cup double under Xabi Alonso. He got fewer minutes last season, but still found the net 11 times.

There is no word on whether Leverkusen themselves will enter the striker market after allowing Boniface to leave. However, last season top scorer Patrick Schick will continue to lead the line, while Martin Terrier is expected to return to action in the autumn after a serious achilles injury.

The latest development leaves Hojlund in an uncertain situation. The Danish international joined United for £72m from Atalanta when Ten Hag was in charge, but was left out of Ruben Amorim's squad for the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

"It is our player - we have to make choices," head coach Ruben Amorim told BBC Radio 5 Live after the game. "We have players that have to stay helping the team from the outside."

Hojlund isn't the only United player who could yet leave the club before the transfer window slams shut on September 1. Jadon Sancho has attracted interest from Serie A and Chelsea are haggling with United on a valuation for Alejandro Garnacho, while we could also see exits for Antony and Tyrell Malacia after the pair were left out of Amorim's squad for the club's pre-season tour.

Matheus Cunha started up front for United against Arsenal, with new signing Benjamin Sesko coming off the bench. Slovenian forward Sesko will be knocking on the door for a first start as United travel to Fulham.

"Sometimes you can look at the game in many ways. in the first half, Cunha has to go out because the centre backs are very strong," Amorim told Match of the Day after United's weekend defeat. "Then you have Sesko and you have a different type of player and that is important for me that we have players to play different games."