Arsenal have been linked with Denmark international striker Rasmus Hojlund in recent days.
According to Tuttoatalanta, the Gunners are plotting a €50m (£44m) approach for the Dea striker.
As well as Arsenal, Newcastle United are reportedly in pursuit of Hojlund too.
However, the Gunners may now find even more competition for the 20-year-old’s signature.
On Thursday, Hojlund was the star of the show in Denmark’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland.
The reported Arsenal target scored an emphatic hat-trick to seal a 3-1 victory for the Euro 92 winners.
Hojlund opened the scoring on 21 minutes, only for Oliver Antman to equalise in the 53rd minute.
However, the Denmark forward netted again in the 82nd minute before completing his hat-trick in injury time.
Don Hutchison loved what he saw from Hojlund and took to Twitter to deem him “Haaland mk2”.
‘He can do more than Haaland’
Hutchison isn’t the first person to make comparisons between Hojlund and the Norway superstar.
Indeed, former Leeds United winger Mark Grella thinks the Arsenal target actually has a wider skill-set than Haaland.
“I will take the comparison with Haaland very lightly, because he is one of the best,” Grella recently told talkSPORT.
“There is also a slight difference between them, which speaks in Hojlund’s favour.
“He can do more than Haaland. Haaland is more the type who duels with the centre-backs and just scores lots of goals.
“Hojlund can dribble past an opponent. He can keep the ball better.
“Hojlund can better help the team on the edge (of the penalty area) or deeper in the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Christian Ilzer – who managed Hojlund at Sturm Graz – says the comparisons are well-founded and insists the two strikers have similar traits.
“There can be a comparison between Rasmus and Erling Haaland,” he said. “In some characteristics, they are similar.
“Both are very fast, they also share determination and the desire to always score.
“Both Hojlund and Haaland are two very positive youngsters and have great confidence in their abilities.”
Hojlund also has 14 goals and five assists from 33 Atalanta outings in all competitions this term.
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