Napoli is willing to commit to buying out Højlund! A new opportunity arises for Manchester United’s squad overhaul, but the transfer fee still needs negotiation.

Following AC Milan’s withdrawal from the loan-then-buy deal for Højlund, Manchester United’s chance to clear out the 22-year-old Danish forward depends entirely on Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions. It is said that Antonio Conte’s squad is prepared to guarantee a permanent transfer, a critical element for the deal to go through.

Transfer expert Di Marzio revealed on Sky Italia that in the latest talks on Wednesday evening, Napoli expressed willingness to commit to a permanent transfer after a season-long loan, rather than just having an option to buy. The difference is that an option allows the club to decide whether to buy or not after the loan, while an obligation requires them to complete the permanent transfer, which is a substantial distinction.

Napoli’s former Manchester United striker Lukaku suffered a severe injury and faces a long-term absence of three to four months, likely returning only next year. Therefore, Conte intends to loan Højlund as a replacement. Although Højlund has wanted to stay at Manchester United, he understands his playing time will be very limited with the arrival of Sheshko.

Since Sheshko joined Manchester United relatively late, even in the upcoming midweek League Cup match against lower-tier Grimsby, Amroli might field this €85 million new signing to help him integrate faster and adapt to English football. If Højlund stays, his game time will be minimal. This is ironic for a player once considered non-transferable, and it’s worth noting that another so-called untouchable, Ganacho, is also certain to be offloaded this summer.

Earlier, AC Milan showed interest in Højlund and was willing to pay a £4.5 million loan fee, but they only accepted a £39 million buy option. The parties failed to reach an agreement, and Allegri decided to loan Viktor Boniface from Bundesliga’s Leverkusen, where the German club does not demand a mandatory buy clause.

Napoli then followed up, negotiating with multiple forwards simultaneously, including offering a six-year contract to Roma’s Artem Dovbyk while also holding talks with Højlund. However, negotiations between the clubs have not yet begun. The 28-year-old Dovbyk scored 12 goals and provided 3 assists in Serie A last season.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated: “Højlund always wanted to stay at Manchester United, but coach Amroli sent a clear message by not playing him even for a minute in the friendly against Fiorentina and excluding him from the Premier League squad against Arsenal. Højlund has no choice but to leave.”

Romano added: “Currently, Højlund prefers a loan with an obligation to buy. He wants the new club to show confidence in him and does not want to be loaned out for a year only to return to Manchester United and have to find a new team again. Napoli is interested, but Højlund insists on a permanent transfer commitment, which is also the solution Manchester United wants.”

It is still unknown how much Napoli is willing to pay for the loan and permanent transfer of Højlund, but British media believe that if the total price reaches £30 million, Manchester United will agree. The club has already loaned out 11 players this summer, including Rashford to Barcelona, and more departures are expected. “The big clear-out” might include him. Along with Ganacho, Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia, he is one of the five players Manchester United aims to offload within the next 10 days.

If Højlund joins Napoli, he will reunite with former Manchester United teammate McTominay, who won the Serie A title and was named the league’s best player in his first season in Italy—a storyline Højlund hopes to replicate.