Inter Milan Target Manchester United Forward in Ambitious Long-Term Striker Plan | OneFootball

Hojlund, Hollywood and Inter’s Italian Ambition

From UCLA to the San Siro

Inter Milan’s pursuit of Rasmus Højlund is taking shape in perhaps the most unusual of scouting backdrops – the sun-kissed graduation lawns of UCLA. While caps fly into the California sky and students serenade their futures in anthem and ambition, Inter’s youth squad trains nearby, watched by club staff who are not merely basking in the West Coast sun but actively plotting the next moves in a transformed transfer landscape.

As Gazzetta Dello Sport vividly captured it, “Graduation day at UCLA is a Hollywood postcard,” and in this picturesque setting, Inter’s intent becomes sharply focused. Among the crowd emerges a “big boy with Nordic features… fresh from a semester in Art and Architecture,” entirely unaware that his countryman could soon be the most significant Scandinavian to grace Italian football since Christian Eriksen.

The Viking Next in Line

“Yes, the one from Manchester United…” comes the casual remark about Højlund, yet behind that line lies a tactical ambition. The 22-year-old Danish striker has apparently “climbed on the pedals, as if he were his other compatriot Jonas Vingegaard,” surging to the front of Inter’s striker shortlist. There is finally “room for an investment up front,” and no one fits that bill better than Højlund, especially with the club’s management now based temporarily in America to oversee this new strategic era.

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The financials remain complex. Manchester United’s £45 million asking price looms, but Gazzetta suggests Inter could defer the cost until 2026 via an expensive loan. This is more than a financial juggle, though. It is about making Højlund the focal point of a new Nerazzurri front line, a symbolic changing of the guard.

Chivu’s Tactical Needs

Romanian coach Cristian Chivu, now entrenched in California with Inter’s youth set-up, is believed to be pushing for an attacking overhaul. Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram – affectionately dubbed “ThuLa” – need reinforcement, especially after the collapse of a move for Mehdi Taremi due to conflict-related complications. “The drama of the war with Israel prevented him from adding Taremi behind ThuLa,” the report explains.

This opens the door wider for Højlund, as well as Ange-Yoan Bonny – “the 21-year-old Parma talent,” whose relationship with the Nerazzurri coach could prove decisive. A €20 million move is on the cards for July, but Bonny, while promising, may not be ready to lead the line alone.

Danish Desire Meets Italian Precision

Crucially, Højlund “has already made it known that he really likes the idea of wearing a new Nerazzurri shirt.” That desire, combined with Inter’s clarity of purpose, creates the perfect assist for a summer swoop.

He is not just a name. He is the vision of a new Inter identity – athletic, youthful and filled with continental ambition. With Lautaro set to remain and the club seeking evolution rather than revolution, Højlund may be the ideal addition.

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This could be the beginning of something thrilling. For an Inter supporter, reading about Højlund’s potential arrival feels like witnessing the club truly plan for the future. After years of reactive transfer activity, this suggests a proactive mindset, targeting a striker who is both marketable and physically suited for Serie A.

The link with Bonny also excites, especially knowing he is “very close to the new Nerazzurri coach.” That sort of personal connection can be decisive and shows the depth of scouting at play.

Yes, £45 million is steep, and a deferred payment to 2026 feels risky, but that is football’s economic reality now. If Højlund is Inter’s future, you pay what is needed to get him. The fact he is already keen adds a layer of belief.

Of course, there are concerns. United may not sell, Bonny may need time, and Taremi’s saga is unfortunate. But finally, fans can see a vision forming — youthful firepower, a manager with real say, and a club unafraid to make bold moves.