United Beyond Manchester

Antonio Conte is keen on signing Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli, as Romelu Lukaku is expected to be out for several months.

Lukaku pulled up in a preseason match against Olympiakos after injuring his left thigh. The Belgian saw a specialist this week, and while he will not require surgery, Sky Sport Italia reports that he could miss up to three or four months.

Lukaku’s injury leaves Gli Azzurri in a tough spot. The club parted ways with Giacomo Raspadori and Victor Osimhen over the summer, while Giovanni Simeone was sent out on loan. Although Lorenzo Lucca arrived from Udinese, Conte’s squad remains short on attacking depth.

One solution for the Italians would be Manchester United outcast Rasmus Hojlund. After Benjamin Sesko signed at Old Trafford, the Dane became surplus to Amorim’s requirements.

Hojlund is available on loan, but would require any club to have an obligation to buy. The 22-year-old wants the club he signs for to commit, rather than acquire him for a season and send him back to Manchester.

While other United rejects have been difficult to work with this summer, Hojlund has remained respectful, earning him admiration from United fans, even ones who want to see him go.

AC Milan and Atalanta are two other clubs keeping tabs on Hojlund, who prefers a move back to Italy if he leaves Old Trafford. Borussia Dortmund and Fulham also admire the forward, but are less likely destinations.

Napoli is also interested in Joshua Zirkzee, but Ruben Amorim wants to keep the Dutch forward.