Milan eye Man Utd striker with structured loan offer on the table | OneFootball

Milan Step Up Hojlund Chase with Loan Talks Underway at United

Milan Turn to Premier League Forward

AC Milan’s striker search has shifted focus as they enter the final phase of their summer business. According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, the club has pivoted away from Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and are now actively pursuing Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund, with emissaries currently in England holding exploratory talks.

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The logic is sound. Vlahovic’s deal has proven financially and structurally complex, while Hojlund represents a more attainable target. “Hojlund, compared to Vlahovic, is clearly a much less complicated situation,” the report states. Two main reasons are cited: United have greater depth up front, especially if Benjamin Sesko arrives, and the Dane earns significantly less, €3 million per season, a quarter of Vlahovic’s current salary.

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Structure of Deal and Player’s Preference

The Rossoneri are exploring a loan deal with an option to buy set at €30 to €35 million. Crucially, Hojlund is open to the move. “The Dane, after a difficult season that fell well short of expectations, would gladly return to Italy and has already expressed his approval of the Milan move,” Gazzetta reports.

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The upcoming weekend could be pivotal. Milan are in Dublin on Saturday to face Leeds, before heading to London on Sunday for a final pre-season match against Chelsea. Behind the scenes, significant movement is expected.

Timing and Market Dynamics

Milan initially planned to resolve their striker issue later in August, potentially revisiting Vlahovic should Juventus’ stance soften. However, that plan has been overtaken by events and uncertainty. “Time is passing and there is no guarantee the path to Vlahovic will become easier,” the report adds.

In that context, Hojlund emerges as a timely and practical alternative, with Milan now pressing ahead to finalise terms with United before rival options re-enter the frame.

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For Manchester United, this potential exit has layers of complexity. On one hand, Rasmus Hojlund endured a tough campaign. He looked raw, occasionally isolated, and his scoring return never quite justified the sizeable investment made last summer. But on the other hand, he’s 21, powerful, and was bought precisely for long-term development, not short-term returns.

So the idea of letting him go on loan, with a relatively modest buy option of €30–35 million, feels premature. If Sesko is coming in, fine, but depth matters. And given how thin things got last year, offloading one of the few athletic, mobile forwards in the squad creates unnecessary risk.

There’s also the broader concern about optics and planning. Letting go of young talent, especially one who was expected to lead the line for years, suggests either a lack of patience or a sudden change in strategy. Neither inspires confidence.

Most fans would agree Hojlund needs time and perhaps support around him. But seeing him leave, even temporarily, while Milan profit from his potential resurgence, could become another case of poor timing rather than poor talent.