Man United ‘eye shock swoop for Premier League flop’ and ‘send scouts to keep track of striker’… as Red Devils look to source a Rasmus Hojlund back-up

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a surprise move for a Premier League flop. 

The club have sent two scouts to Spain to keep an eye on the striker, who is now 34 and living his best life. 

He hardly set the world alight in his time at Stoke and Newcastle, where he scored a grand total of 11 goals across three seasons.

United believe the forward, who now plays for Real Madrid, could be a solid back-up choice for Hojlund, according to Relevo. 

Manchester United have reportedly sent a couple of scous to Spain to track a possible back-up striker for Rasus Hojlund 

The striker in question is Joselu, 34, who has found the net 14 times this season for Madrid

The man in question is Joselu, who is enjoying a second wind late in his career. 

While his time in the Premier League will be remembered with little enthusiasm – or entirely forgotten – he has stepped up his game back in his homeland. 

He blasted in 17 goals for Espanyol last campaign, convincing Madrid to bring him back to the Santiago Bernabeu – and Carlo Ancelotti speaks highly of him. 

‘Joselu is doing everything necessary and possible to continue. He is doing spectacularly, it is a blessing for us to have a forward with this quality, different from the others,’ he said.

‘Always ready, when he plays from the start or when he has entered [as a substitute]. A very humble, serious person.’

Before joining Madrid and his loan a Espanyol, he had three fruitful seasons at Alaves, puncturing the net 36 times in three seasons.  

According to Relevo, Joselu’s priority is to stay with Madrid beyond the summer and his contract expires in 2025. 

Any move for Joselu would likely have to be signed off by incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth, who remains on gardening leave at Newcastle. 

He had failed stints at Stoke and Newcastle, scoring just 11 times across three seasons 

Despite the clear merits of Joselu at this stage in his career, it would appear to be an unconventional transfer.

He has turned out for 12 different teasm (including two B-teams) and is widely seen as a European journeyman.  

United have had a penchant for bringing in older back-up strikers in recent years – see Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst as examples. Neither of those produced the goods. 

It stands in stark contrast to Arsenal’s bouncy new 10-man shortlist, which features Ivan Toney, Alexander Isak, and Viktor Gyokeres.