Højlund salvaged a point for Manchester United, but the big question remains: "Do Man United need him?".

Rasmus Højlund admitted he "needed that goal" after scoring a 96th-minute equaliser in a dramatic 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the weekend. It was the Danish striker's second goal for Manchester United in 2025, but it was also a reminder of the big question everyone is asking: Do Manchester United really need Højlund?

Højlund's late effort

The Red Devils are on track for their worst season in Premier League history, with Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik Ten Hag in November, unable to stop the slide.

One of the most worrying numbers for Manchester United this season has been their goalscoring numbers. After 34 Premier League games, they have scored just 39 - just six more than relegated Ipswich. Only once before in Premier League history have United finished a season with fewer than 50 goals - in 2015/16 under Louis van Gaal, when they scored just 49 and he was sacked shortly after winning the FA Cup.

To avoid a repeat of this, Manchester United need to score at least 11 goals in their remaining four games of the season. However, in their last nine games, they have only scored 11 goals, which shows that their attack is facing many problems.

Højlund's last-gasp strike saved Man United from defeat at Bournemouth, but could it be a sign that he could be the club's future attacking saviour? That's a question both fans and coaching staff need to consider.

Højlund is struggling to find form.

The strike against Bournemouth was the former Atalanta striker's fourth goal in 29 Premier League games this season, a statistic that is not enough to satisfy a team in a crisis in attack.

On Instagram after the match, Højlund wrote: "We wanted to win, but I needed that goal." However, Højlund's goal tally this season (four) is only equal to the number of goals Marcus Rashford scored before joining Aston Villa on loan in February.

While Højlund has struggled to find form, other players such as Bruno Fernandes (8 goals), Alejandro Garnacho (5 goals) and the injured duo of Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee (both with 9 goals) have also failed to make a difference. This shows the sad fact that Man United are lacking a real main striker who can score regularly and solve the team's attacking problems.

However, Højlund has been the most talked about player. The 22-year-old, who the Red Devils paid £72m to sign from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, has had a disappointing season. Despite an impressive start to last season with 16 goals in 43 games, his form has dipped significantly this term.

Højlund is likely to leave

Summer overhaul 2025 Manchester United are preparing for a major squad overhaul this summer, selling underperforming players to raise funds for the transfer market. According to SunSport , United's priority is to sign an attacking midfielder and a top striker to improve their situation. Targets such as Ipswich's Liam Delap, Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyökeres and Wolves' Matheus Cunha are all on the radar.

Højlund still has a lot to prove if he is to maintain his place at Old Trafford.

When asked about Højlund's future, coach Ruben Amorim made vague statements: "We like our strikers. We are improving our strikers. We will see what happens next season."

According to British media, Man United are ready to sell any player who can bring in a large transfer fee, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League through the Europa League. And Højlund is no exception. Several clubs in Italy have expressed interest in the striker, who is still very young and full of potential.

Gary Neville, Man United legend, commented: "There will be a lot of clubs looking at talent and seeing that Man United have not exploited the full potential of these players. They will think they can buy a bargain."

"With Højlund, there is still a potential player there, and there may be a club in Europe ready to exploit this player," Gary Neville expressed his opinion.

Given what has happened this season, Højlund still has a lot to prove if he wants to maintain his place at Old Trafford. Whether he can become part of Manchester United's long-term plans will depend on whether he can improve his form in the remaining matches of this season.

Source: https://znews.vn/h-jlund-con-gi-de-hy-vong-post1549818.html