Arsenal and Newcastle target ‘better than Dusan Vlahovic’ and ‘worth £70m’

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Rasmus Hojlund is ‘worth £70 million’ and ‘better’ than Dusan Vlahovic amid reports linking Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle United with the Atalanta star, former Serie A ace Jeda tells Sport Italia. 

In his first season in a major European league, 20-year-old Hojlund is just one goal behind Juventus’ £72 million centre-forward in the Golden Boot race. 

Hojlund, a summer signing from Sturm Graz, took his tally to seven in just 14 starts on Friday night. He rose from the bench to score a dramatic late winner against Empoli; Atalanta keeping their Champions League hopes alive. 

Newcastle are long-time admirers of the Denmark U21 international; The Chronicle reporting that recruitment chief Steve Nickson is keeping tabs on his fearsome development in Bergamo. Arsenal are also keen on the supposedly £45 million-rated Hojlund, via La Repubblica.  

Jeda, however, believes that Atalanta should demand a damn sight more than 50 million euros if Newcastle or Arsenal step up their interest.  

Arsenal and Newcastle United like Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund

“Hojlund is really impressive. Better than Vlahovic,” says Jeda, who scored 30 Serie A goals for Vicenza, Lecce, Cagliari and Novara.

“He can still grow a lot. He’s worth £70 million in my opinion. In terms of characteristics, he has something more (than Vlahovic). Dusan has a problem in his mind, a mental one. As a former striker, I see it like this; I prefer Hojlund.”

Given their Scandinavian roots, their Austrian background, and their near-identical surnames, comparisons have inevitably been drawn between Hojlund and a certain Erling Haaland. According to CBS analyst – and former Leeds midfielder – Mike Grella, Hojlund has a more all-round skillset than Manchester City’s seemingly unstoppable number nine. 

“I will take the comparison with Haaland very lightly, because he is one of the best. There is also a slight difference between them, which speaks in Hojlund’s favour,” explains Grella.

“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 box) or deeper in the pitch.”