Paul Scholes Claims Rasmus Hojlund Has Been ‘Absolutely Flogged to Death’ at Manchester United

United Legend Suggests Outrageous Double Transfer to Help Confidence-Stricken Striker

Paul Scholes isn’t one to mince his words—and when it comes to Manchester United’s handling of Rasmus Hojlund, the Old Trafford legend hasn’t held back. In a candid discussion on The Overlap Fan Debate, Paul Scholes voiced his frustration at how the 22-year-old Dane has been “absolutely flogged to death” since his high-profile arrival in 2023.

Hojlund, who joined the Red Devils for a staggering £72 million ($97m) from Atalanta, arrived with bags of potential and the weight of expectation. Yet, fast forward nearly two full seasons, and the young striker is still struggling to live up to the hype. He’s not been awful—but he’s not exactly set the Premier League on fire either. With just 26 goals in 95 appearances, including only three in 2025, the questions have started swirling about whether United got this one wrong.

But Paul Scholes believes the real issue isn’t Rasmus Hojlund himself—it’s the lack of support and over-reliance on a player still learning his trade.

“He’s Been Asked to Lead the Line Alone for Two Years”

RASMUS HOJLUND MANCHESTER UNITED

“I’d keep Rasmus Hojlund,” Paul Scholes said emphatically. “I know he’s not been great, but he’s a 22-year-old kid who has been asked to play centre-forward for Manchester United on his own for the last two years.”

This, according to Paul Scholes, is the crux of the issue. Manchester United—a club with a proud history of world-class strike partnerships—have placed the entire burden of leading the attack on a player barely old enough to rent a car.

“He’s had to play every week. He’s the only one there,” Paul Scholes continued. “With the way United play, they should have at least three top centre-forwards. And Rasmus Hojlund should be one of them, not the only one.”

Scholes Calls for a Striking Overhaul – Enter Osimhen and Gyokeres

So what’s the solution? According to the former United midfielder, United need to go big—and he means really big. Paul Scholes has called on the club to bring in Victor Osimhen from Napoli and Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon to build a striking department brimming with experience, competition, and depth.

“Get Osimhen and Gyokeres,” Paul Scholes said plainly. “Hojlund, he’s struggled like mad of late, especially, but he’s not got the chance to sit down and watch.”

It’s a fair point. In most top clubs, a young striker like Rasmus Hojlund would be eased into the first team, maybe rotated in and out, learning from seasoned pros. But at United, he’s been forced to carry the attacking load almost entirely alone, week in, week out. That’s a tough ask for even the most talented young player.

“If a striker is not doing well, low on confidence, the manager should be able to sit him down and say, ‘Have a look. Get a bit of hunger back, a bit of feeling back for the game,’”Paul  Scholes explained. “We all know he has centre-forward qualities—we’ve seen it. Not enough, I know that. But if he had experience around him… say he had Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke types around him—it’d bring him on so much.”

Confidence the Key for Rasmus Hojlund’s Future

Scholes’s comments strike at a deeper truth: football isn’t just about ability. It’s about confidence, momentum, and rhythm. And those are exactly the things Rasmus Hojlund appears to have lost in recent months.

“He’s been absolutely flogged to death,” Paul Scholes said. “People forget how old he is. A lot of it is confidence.”

Indeed, Rasmus Hojlund’s dip in form during 2025 has been stark. Three goals all year—for a Manchester United centre-forward—is a worrying return. His goals came in scattered fashion against Leicester City, Bournemouth, and Athletic Club, and he’s looked visibly off the pace in several matches.

Yet, it’s not hard to see what Paul Scholes sees in him. The Danish striker has moments where everything clicks—clever movement, intelligent link-up play, a lethal burst of pace—but they’re too fleeting right now.

Transfer Speculation Swirling Around Old Trafford

As always with Manchester United, off-pitch drama runs parallel with on-field issues. Reports suggest that United are open to offloading Rasmus Hojlund if they receive bids in the region of £30 million ($41m). That’s a massive drop in valuation from the fee they paid just two years ago.

Inter Milan have reportedly been in contact with the striker’s representatives, while both Juventus and Napoli are monitoring his situation closely. Interestingly, Napoli are said to be open to including Rasmus Hojlund as part of any potential deal involving Victor Osimhen. A swap deal, perhaps?

Whether that would suit United remains to be seen. Selling Rasmus Hojlund now would be seen by many as a massive admission of failure, especially after investing so heavily in him both financially and developmentally.

Mbeumo and Cunha: Alternatives or Additions?

While Paul Scholes has his sights set on Osimhen and Gyokeres, the club seems to be considering other options too. Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has been strongly linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford. And with Matheus Cunha already making a move from Wolves, the competition for places could ramp up quickly.

Still, whether these names have the same game-changing potential as Osimhen or Gyokeres is up for debate. Mbeumo is more of a wide forward than a traditional No. 9, and Cunha, while talented, has struggled with consistency in England.

If United are truly serious about building a top-tier attack capable of challenging City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, then Paul Scholes’s double-pronged proposal may not be so outrageous after all.

The Bigger Picture – United Must Learn from Past Mistakes

Rasmus Hojlund Manchester United 2025

United’s history with strikers over the past decade has been a mixed bag. From the highs of Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimović to the underwhelming stints of Radamel Falcao, Romelu Lukaku, and Wout Weghorst, consistency has been elusive.

What’s different with Rasmus Hojlund is the long-term potential. Letting him go now might fix short-term problems, but it could come back to haunt United later.

And if Paul Scholes’s words hold weight within the club—there’s every chance they still do—then Rasmus Hojlund might just find himself with a second chance to flourish. Provided, of course, the club invests in the right support.

Final Thoughts: A Young Striker Needs Time—And Help

Paul Scholes’s passionate defence of Rasmus Hojlund might come across as blunt, but it’s rooted in experience. He’s seen what happens when young players are given the time and environment to grow—and what happens when they’re not.

Manchester United’s failure to support Rasmus Hojlund properly is a symptom of a wider problem at the club: a lack of planning, a lack of depth, and an over-reliance on youth to solve senior issues. But if they can finally get their recruitment right, surround Rasmus Hojlund with the right players, and take some of the pressure off his young shoulders, they might still unlock the striker they hoped they were signing.

Because as Paul Scholes says: “He’s got it. You can see it. But he needs help.”