CONFIRMED! – Erik Ten Hag confirm new attacker on the way as Man Utd could move Hojlund aside by signing “incredible” £70m Bundesliga striker faster than Haaland

A new attacker is on the way, according to Erik Ten Hag, and Manchester United could replace Hojlund by signing a “incredible” £70 million Bundesliga striker before Haaland.

Although Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Anfield may not seem particularly noteworthy, this season hasn’t shown the same tenacity and unity.

The outcome was the Red Devils’ first Premier League draw of the year, and they finished the season in seventh place with 28 points from 17 games.

Although United’s defense was impressive, Erik ten Hag’s team is obviously having trouble in the last third.

Given that they have only scored 18 goals this season, the manager might wish to expand his attacking options in January.

Most recent Man Utd transfer: Lois Openda
Ten Hag is reportedly very fond of Belgian striker Lois Openda, and he wants to sign him, according to TEAMtalk.

Openda only moved to Germany in the summer, and the forward now has a £70 million release clause attached to him that will activate in the summer of 2025, thanks to RB Leipzig.

Because the Bundesliga team wants to keep their star player, a move this winter is very unlikely, but a summer transfer is possible.

The playing style of Lois Openda
Openda has had a significant influence on the Leipzig team since moving to Germany from Lens, flourishing right away in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League. His 15 goals and 4 assists in just 24 appearances across all competitions serve as proof of this.

The 23-year-old is a superb finisher who puts the ball in the back of the net with superb movement and poise. Even though his right foot is stronger, Openda is equally at ease in his left, which makes him much less predictable in 1v1 situations and inside the box.

The Belgian’s pace is “terrifying,” according to Athletic European football writer Seb Stafford-Bloor. This season, he has surpassed Erling Haaland’s top speed in the Champions League, clocking in at 35.71 km/h and 34.6 km/h, respectively.

Premier League of Leipzig: lois-openda-rb
But how does Openda stack up against Rasmus Hojlund, United’s current striker, who has had a terrible season in the Premier League and has made just 13 appearances without a goal?

As you can see, Openda and Hojlund play peripheral roles in the game and are rarely involved in the build-up. But unlike the 20-year-old, who has underperformed his xG in the league by 3.01, the Leipzig forward has much more of an impact in the box and can easily finish chances.

Additionally, during the previous two seasons, the former Vitesse player demonstrated consistency in front of goal, scoring at least 18 goals domestically in each of those campaigns, and he is expected to do so again this year.

By relieving some of the pressure on the young Dane, Openda would benefit the Red Devils and maybe even Hojlund, according to the data and output level.

That being said, a striker can only be effective if he receives a job, and the former Atalanta player has spent most of this season living off scraps.

Consequently, even though the Belgium international would improve United, other issues and positions might need to be resolved first.