The transfer business for the upcoming summer is really heating up already with plenty of big names up for grabs. Champions League giants Real Madrid, who are always a few steps ahead in terms of acquisitions and departures, are currently set to have a lead over one of the most talked about footballers in Italy. Madrid, alongside other top clubs in Europe like Arsenal, want to sign Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta. 

It was deported by Daily Mirror that both clubs, alongside a few other clubs in the land, had sent scouts to watch Hojlund play. The Danish striker has been in great form in the Serie A sine the turn of the year, scoring five goals in 2023 and taking over league tally for this season to six goals and an assist. Interesting, the youngster’s presence has kept some of their veterans like Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel on the bench.

At 6’3”, Hojlund is a major aerial threat and is also pretty quick with his movements. He has shown great clinicality in front of the goal whenever got an opportunity and is currently ranked as one of the hottest prospects in world football as far as that center-forward position goes.

Interestingly, Atalanta themselves paid a pretty big fee of £15m from Austrian club Sturm Graz. By the time had joined, he had very little experience of playing top flight football and took a few matches to get going in the Serie A. However, once he started firing in those crucial goals, he has been immovable from his starting XI spot. 

According to Italian outlet la Repubblica and Nextbet, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez admires Hojlund and sent scouts to Rome to watch him play against Lazio earlier in February. The Santiago Bernabeu officials returned with some positive reports about the former Copenhagen prospect, as he showed good movement to tap in from a cross in Atalanta’s 2-0 victory at Stadio Olimpico.

Real Madrid are keen on signing a few young strikers before they can give Karim Benzema a grand farewell, which doesn’t seem soon enough as it stands. Arsenal too are looking for an out-and-out forward and a make-shift No. 9 like Gabriel Jesus might not do the job for them for too long.