Napoli are reportedly making progress in their efforts to land Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United look increasingly likely to part ways with Rasmus Hojlund, with Fabrizio Romano reporting via X that Napoli have stepped up talks to secure the Danish striker on a long-term deal.

Positive discussions are said to have taken place with Hojlund’s camp over contract terms and Napoli’s project, with Manchester United already informed and ready to sanction an exit if the 22-year-old gives the green light.

It would be unfair to pin Manchester United’s attacking struggles solely on Hojlund, but his time at Old Trafford has underlined that he was not the man to lead the line. In two seasons, he has registered 26 goals, with only ten coming last term across all competitions, a return well below what the club needed.

The summer arrival of Benjamin Sesko, signed as the spearhead of Ruben Amorim’s new-look frontline, has effectively sealed Hojlund’s fate. He was left out of the squad entirely in Manchester United’s opening-day defeat to Arsenal, a clear signal that his role under Amorim has diminished.

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For Napoli, the timing is ideal. Romelu Lukaku’s injury, which will keep him out for up to four months, has left the Serie A champions scrambling for a new striker ahead of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Hojlund’s youth, athleticism, and Serie A experience from his Atalanta days make him a natural fit for the Azzurri’s system.

The move would also reunite Rasmus Hojlund with Scott McTominay, who has quickly become a cult hero in Naples after driving the club to a league title in his debut season. Their friendship at Manchester United was well-known, often jokingly referred to as a “bromance,” and the idea of linking up again could help Hojlund settle in Italy.

A win-win for Manchester United

From Manchester United’s standpoint, moving Rasmus Hojlund on makes sense. Amorim has been decisive in reshaping the squad, and if Sesko is to be the focal point, resources tied up in the Danish striker are better redirected towards other areas of need, such as midfield and goalkeeper reinforcements.

Letting him go now, while Napoli are motivated and willing to invest, gives Manchester United a clean break from an experiment that never quite worked. Negotiations between Napoli and Hojlund’s camp will continue over the coming days, with Manchester United waiting in the background for a final agreement.

Should terms be settled, the move would mark a fresh chapter for the Dane, and yet another step in Amorim’s rebuild of Manchester United. For the Red Devils, it feels like the right time to draw a line under the Hojlund era and move forward with a new attacking identity.