‘Young Zlatan’ Rasmus Hojlund urged not to make £44m Newcastle or Arsenal move

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Sturm Graz coach Christian Ilzer believes Rasmus Hojlund will become a world-class striker but hopes to see him stay at Atalanta amid interest from Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle United, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb. 

With Atalanta moving on from the old guard, 20-year-old Hojlund is perhaps the leader of a brand new generation at La Dea.

The £17 million summer signing has been a revelation in Serie A; his shock of blond hair, his explosive pace, his ruthless finishing and past in Austrian football leading to rather inevitable comparisons with fellow Scandinavian and near-namesake Erling Haaland. 

“There can be a comparison between Rasmus and Erling Haaland,” says Ilzer, who worked with the so-called ‘young Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘ at Sturm Graz. “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.” 

Newcastle United and Arsenal like Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta

The Chronicle say that Newcastle’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson is keeping tabs on a player who has been on their radar for the best part of a year now. Arsenal too, via La Repubblica, despite claims that Hojlund’s market value has risen to around £44 million. 

Ilzer, however, believes that Hojlund is better off staying put for the time being. In Gian Piero Gasperini, he is honing his considerable talents under a coach who transformed Papu Gomez, Cristian Romero, Duvan Zapata and more into some of Europe’s best. 

“I’m really happy that Hojlund managed to adapt so quickly to Serie A and became an important player for Atalanta,” Ilzer adds.

“I think he is probably already ready to move to an even more important club. However, we must always remember that he is 20. I think that, in Bergamo, he has a coach like Gasperini who believes in him a lot. He can count on a team that has been doing really well for years. And therefore it wouldn’t be bad for Hojlund to stay at Atalanta.  

“Indeed, he can further confirm his potential and become one of the best strikers in Serie A. I think that remaining with (Atalanta) is a positive thing for his growth. No matter what happens, Rasmus’ rise to become a top European forward will not stop.”