Who is Denmark's hat-trick hero Rasmus Højlund?

The Danish international scored a hat trick against Finland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

The 20-year-old was transferred from Sturm Graz to the Serie A club last summer in a deal worth £15 million, the youngster netted eight goals in 23 games.

The Dane earned his national team debut on Thursday and grabbed a hat-trick in a Euro 2024 qualifying match against Finland.

And now clubs have started showing interest in signing the 20-year-old. Given his age, Hojlund wouldn't be put in the same category, but according to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, United are keeping an eye on the striker in anticipation of making a summer transfer move.

According to reports, Atalanta would consider selling the striker if offers of between £22 and $30 million come in.

Hojlund is reportedly valued by Atalanta at anywhere between £23 million and £31 million, and Manchester United is one of the teams who 'flirts' with the striker.

Hojlund, a self-described lover of the Red Devils, admitted as much in January: "Now that you ask, I will not disguise the fact that I am a passionate Manchester United supporter.

Who exactly is Rasmus Hojlund?

In 2020, Hojlund signed with his local team Copenhagen to start his professional career. He made his debut in European competitions during the 2021–22 season, scoring five goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League throughout both the qualifying stages and the actual tournament.

Hojlund signed a reported €1.8 million contract with Austrian Bundesliga team Sturm Graz in January 2022.

For the balance of the 2021–22 season and the beginning of the 2022–23 season, he tallied 12 goals in 21 games across all competitions.

Hjlund signed a contract with Serie A team Atalanta on August 27, 2022, for an estimated sum of €17 million. On September 5 in a 2-0 away victory against Monza, he scored his first goal for Atalanta.

Playing style of Rasmus Højlund

Hjlund's climb from his local club Copenhagen, in which he was instrumental in their advancement through the European Conference League qualification rounds, has been swift; a rise which has been witnessed on the international scene, as he made his senior team debut just a few months ago.

Hjlund offered a desirable alternative because of the dearth of high-potential young centre-forwards with affordable prices, and his exploits in central Europe rapidly attracted interest from a number of teams. His early career efficiency was commendable—12 goals in 21 appearances—but his game was extremely malleable.

Rasmus Hojlund's physique and offensive prowess are reminiscent of Duane Vlahovi during his time with Fiorentina. The 20-year-old attacker is still two years younger than Duan Vlahovi was during his prime season in Florence, despite the Serbian's superior goal-scoring record at Fiorentina. Hjlund has mostly been utilised in the 3-5-2 formation under Gasperini as a second striker alongside a more direct attacker alongside a rotating lineup of Duván Zapata, Luis Muriel, and Ademola Lookman.

During his limited tenure in Bergamo thus far, his goal-scoring hasn't been the major area of growth, frequently taking on a more bit part for the aforementioned players. He is a dynamic attacker with the ability to drive for a goal and extend into the open, drop to join and pass runners through.