Man Utd dilemma after Champions League finalist's transfer U-turn and contract stand-off

 Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince has cautioned Sir Jim Ratcliffe about hastily selling Rasmus Hojlund, advising a loan spell might be more beneficial based on Scott McTominay's experience. The Red Devils had a dreadful season, finishing an abysmal 15th and succumbing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

Meanwhile, McTominay flourished with Napoli and was named Serie A's Most Valuable Player. For Antonio Conte's side, he has proven to be a bargain at £25million.

Against this backdrop, £72m man Hojlund struggled this season and looked equally at sea under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. However, Ince is convinced there is a top striker in Hojlund waiting to be unleashed.

The ex-Inter Milan man urged Ratcliffe to loan the 22-year-old, perhaps to another team in Serie A, so he can find his confidence and return to United as a more well-rounded and experienced forward. United lost out on the opportunity to do this with McTominay, as they sold him to the Serie A champions permanently.

Speaking on behalf of bet365, Ince told the Manchester Evening News: "He (Hojlund) is still a young lad. He's got a lot to learn. I'd like to see him go on loan somewhere, let him go find his feet, get a bit of confidence.

"It's a tough place at United with the expectations, that are required from you. He might need someone to play next to him, maybe a senior centre-forward, to take him under his wing.

"It looks like he is playing every game on his own. I know Zirkzee has come from Bologna, but that has not really worked out in this moment of time. As a striker, you need someone to lean on and take the pressure off you, but he has not had that all season. It looks like it is affecting his game.

"There is a very good player in there, believe me, a very good player. Maybe a little loan spell, out in Italy, somewhere like that, get some goals for a few months, get some confidence and then come back in.

"United look like they are about to sign (Matheus) Cunha, who is a very good player, but even someone like Ollie Watkins would be a very good player.

"Maybe Hojlund could come back after that, work underneath, play a certain amount of games where the pressure would not be on him too much? At the minute, there is a lot of pressure."

Despite arriving from Atalanta with a hefty £72m price tag in the summer of 2023, Hojlund has struggled to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, managing just four Premier League goals this season amidst a challenging campaign.

United were understood to be plotting a move for Liam Delap, but the Ipswich Town hitman looks to be on his way to Chelsea. Amorim has looked seemingly unimpressed by Hojlund's efforts.

However, Ince points to McTominay's successful stint in Naples as an example of how a move could jumpstart his fortunes. He said: "It's funny because some players fit certain teams and environments.

"When you look at Scott McTominay, you think, 'How the hell did they let him go?' Sometimes, it's the manager, what is going on at the club. You look at Antony, he's been great at Real Betis and played in a cup final.

"You look at these two players, who could not perform the way they are performing now. Is it them, is it the coach, is it the environment, the pressures and expectations of playing for Manchester United?

"As a midfield player, I've always loved McTominay, I always thought he was one of the few who was actually trying to make things happen at Manchester United. But I'm so pleased he's managed to go there, because he will be a god there. I know what those fans are like and Antony the same."