Rasmus Højlund Set to Join Napoli in €45m Move

Napoli are close to signing Rasmus Højlund from Manchester United. The deal is a loan with a €45 million obligation to buy, depending on final negotiations as stated in recent reports.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Napoli and Manchester United have a verbal agreement for Højlund. It’s a loan with a €45 million mandatory purchase. Højlund struggled at United last season after joining from Atalanta, where he scored 9 goals and provided 2 assists in 33 Premier League matches. Napoli need a striker because Romelu Lukaku is injured for three to four months. Højlund is expected to become Napoli’s main striker, and reports say some Napoli players convinced him to join.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Napoli finished as winners in Serie A last season, two points ahead of Inter Milan. They lacked a scorer after Osimhen left, and expected Lukaku to fill that role for the second season running before his injury. Højlund scored 8 goals and had 3 assists in 30 league games for United while they ended the season in fifteenth place, missing out on the Champions League. Højlund often started but struggled with injuries and team inconsistency. Now, Napoli are fighting for European places and every point is crucial to compete with Juventus and Inter Milan. Napoli, however, are currently on top of the league, level on points with every other team that won their opener, looking to defend their title this season.

WHAT NEXT FOR NAPOLI AND HOJLUND?

Napoli want to register Højlund for their next match against Cagliari. Playing against Cagliari, who should end the season in the lower half, offers Højlund a chance to debut. If he adapts quickly and scores goals, he could be crucial for Napoli in their fight to move up the table and secure a Champions League spot. Meanwhile, Manchester United must find new attacking options as they prepare for a season without top European competition. Højlund’s future at Manchester United has become uncertain, especially due to the possible arrival of new players and his own underwhelming debut season.