Rasmus Hojlund: Manchester United has an elite striker

Manchester United opened their switch window by signing Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. After their first two video games of the season, calls from the media have grown loud once more that Manchester United wants a confirmed objective scorer.

The Purple Devils have already got the objective scorer of their squad. Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund is greater than in a position to carry the burden of main the road for Manchester United.

On this article, the argument is made as to why Manchester United doesn’t want a confirmed objective scorer and will focus their consideration on the one they have already got.

Rasmus Hojlund’s first season:

Hojlund scored 16 goals for Manchester United last season. Whereas he took the Champions League by storm, scoring 5 targets in six video games, his first objective within the Premier League needed to wait until December. All in all, he scored 10 Premier League targets, 5 Champions League targets and one objective within the FA Cup.

These numbers could seem underwhelming however on a deeper look, they match effectively with a number of the Purple Devils greats. Wayne Rooney scored 11 Premier League targets in his first season for Manchester United. In Rooney’s first season at Manchester United, he scored 17 targets in all competitions. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez “Chicharito” scored 19 targets for the Purple Devils in his first season. Dimitar Berbatov scored 14 targets in his first season at Manchester United.

One other nice Premier League striker, Robin Van Persie, scored 10 and 11 targets with Arsenal in his first two seasons.

Rooney had two years of Premier League expertise when becoming a member of Manchester United. Chicharito has been enjoying first-team soccer for 4 years earlier than becoming a member of the Purple Devils.

Berbatov was a recognized commodity when he joined United after some nice seasons at Spurs. Van Persie got here to Arsenal as a younger striker and it took him three seasons to achieve his stage.

Whereas 10 Premier League targets could also be underwhelming, all of the above gamers got here into higher groups. Additionally they had extra expertise in prime stage soccer. Underlying numbers show that The Dane’s ending is elite.

A deeper look into Rasmus Hojlund ending

Hojlund scored 10 targets from an XG of 8.41. His targets scored put him within the ninetieth percentile of the Premier League. His Xg put him within the eighty fifth percentile. He was within the ninetieth percentile for shot conversion price, displaying an excellent nostril for objective.

In his solely season at Atlanta, he scored 9 targets from 7.41 XG. His targets scored put him within the ninety fifth percentile of Serie A. His Xg was within the 98th percentile. He was within the 86th percentile for shot conversion price in his solely season at Serie A.

Elite strikers are recognized to overperform their XG. different “elite” Premier League strikers, Erling Haaland scored 27 targets from 25.13 XG. Dominic Solanke scored 19 targets from 17.77 XG. Darwin Nunez scored 11 targets from 14.86 XG. Mohamed Salah scored 18 targets from 18.82 XG. Ollie Watkins scored 19 targets from 18.87 XG. Alexander Isak scored 21 targets from 17.79 XG.

The frequent theme between all these “elite” strikers is that their groups create tons of possibilities for them. The opposite frequent theme is that they overperform their XG, though not by large margins. Barring Isak, they throughout carried out their Xg by the identical common as Hojlund did.

In his two seasons in a top-5 league, Hojlund overperformed his XG, displaying a striker with a nostril for objective and potential for elite ending.

Conclusion

In Hojlund, the Purple Satan’s have a 30-goal per season striker. The Danish Striker overperforming his XG has been a typical theme in his brief profession. He’s nonetheless 21 and isn’t even near coming into his peak.

Manchester United has to create sufficient possibilities for Hojlund to complete. When he’s enjoying, they don’t have an issue in ending their possibilities, the issue is creating these possibilities for him within the first place.

Manchester United doesn’t want to look the marketplace for an elite striker; they have already got one. It’s nearly how they greatest use him and play to his strengths.