Ten Hag pleased that Man Utd chose Hojlund instead of Kane

After Harry Kane left Tottenham to join Bayern, coach Erik ten Hag said he was satisfied with Man Utd's choice to recruit Rasmus Hojlund.

"We signed Hojlund and we are really happy with this choice," Ten Hag said on August 11 at a press conference before the Premier League opener against Wolves, when asked to compare the team's new player with the England striker who is leaving Tottenham for Bayern.

However, the Man Utd coach also praised Kane as a great striker, scoring a lot of goals and having all the necessary qualities in a striker. Ten Hag also considered Kane's departure a big loss for the Premier League.

Ten Hag sat next to Hojlund before the Danish striker signed a five-year contract with Man Utd on August 5. Photo: manutd.com — Ten Hag sat next to Hojlund before the Danish striker signed a five-year contract with Man Utd on August 5. Photo: *manutd.com*

Kane was Man Utd's top target for many transfer windows. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy demanded more than $150 million from other English clubs, causing the "Red Devils" to give up. In the end, Tottenham agreed to sell Kane to Bayern for $110 million plus $22 million in additional fees.

Meanwhile, Old Trafford recruited Hojlund with an $83 million upfront fee and $11 million in additional fees from Atalanta. Compared to Kane, the Danish striker is 10 years younger and Man Utd trusted him with a five-year contract, until 2028. Hojlund was introduced to the fans at Old Trafford on August 5, right before the friendly win over Lens 3-1.

Kane holds the record for scoring 280 goals for Tottenham and 58 for England. He is currently second in the Premier League's all-time scoring list with 213 goals, just behind Alan Shearer's record of 260. Meanwhile, Hojlund has yet to prove himself at the highest level, scoring just nine goals in 32 Serie A games last season.

However, Ten Hag refused to explain why Man Utd chose Hojlund over Kane. He said: "I don't think I have to talk about that. We are professional and have very careful working processes. Man Utd consider many factors before making a decision, but it is not overnight. We study every decision and are satisfied with the current team."

Rasmus Hojlund's talent in 2023 — Hojlund's talent in 2023.

Despite picking up an injury while playing for Atalanta, Hojlund passed his medical. The 20-year-old striker is expected to miss a few weeks and has been left out of the opening game against Wolves. Ten Hag said Hojlund had a back problem, but denied he was out long-term.

The Dutch coach also confirmed that former captain Harry Maguire could still play in the match at Old Trafford on the evening of August 14. At a press conference a few hours earlier, West Ham coach David Moyes revealed that Man Utd had accepted a fee of 38 million USD for the English midfielder. The deal will be completed when West Ham has negotiated personal terms with Maguire.

Wolves have made a big change in their coaching staff just days before the game against Man Utd, when they sacked coach Julen Lopetegui and appointed Gary O'Neil - who helped Bournemouth stay in the league last season. Ten Hag said he was not interested in the problems of his opponents, but only analysed and evaluated them to find the best strategy.

Hong Duy

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