Manchester United's £72 million dilemma! Hoylund is causing headaches for Lajue, while Amorim strives to motivate.

In the first half of the match where Manchester United defeated West Ham 2-1, striker Hoylund had a few flashes of brilliance. Right from the start, he showcased his strength, speed, and aggression, receiving a through ball from Bruno Fernandes and striking with his left foot, hitting the outside of the post. However, he also had issues, as another left-foot shot near the penalty spot went high over the crossbar, leaving head coach Ruben Amorim quite frustrated.

After the match, Amorim still praised Hoylund's performance with a furrowed brow: "I really liked Rasmus (Hoylund)'s game; his movement, the way he fought during the match, and his coordination with teammates in one-on-one situations were outstanding."

During his two seasons at Manchester United for £72 million, Hoylund scored 26 goals in 95 appearances, averaging a goal every four matches, which isn't bad data. Additionally, if only counting the Premier League, Hoylund scored 14 goals in 62 matches, also averaging a goal every four matches. However, he has a problem: he either goes long stretches without scoring or scores in bursts.

Last season, Hoylund had a stretch of five goals in four matches, and previously scored eight goals in eight matches. If we exclude these two scoring streaks, he managed only 13 goals in 83 other matches, averaging just one goal every six games, which is clearly not good enough. The question is whether Hoylund can extend his periods of high scoring efficiency or if he will always be this inconsistent.

Manchester United has had several similar unstable players over the past few years, with Rashford and Martial being prime examples; they can be unstoppable when in form but incredibly frustrating when they aren't. At 22, Hoylund has at least earned recognition from fans for his effort compared to them. After all, he is a player with the "Child Demon Dream" mentality, insisting that he does not wish to leave Old Trafford and is willing to fight for his place.

However, playing for a top club requires more than just a good attitude; without performance, progress is impossible. Manchester United is expected to bring in a new striker this summer, with ongoing rumors about players like Watkins from Aston Villa, Jackson from Chelsea, and even less talked about Mateta from Crystal Palace, all potentially on the recruitment list.

The biggest issue lies in Hoylund's transfer fee; if he wasn't brought in for the high price of £72 million but rather signed for £30 million, Manchester United would undoubtedly look to offload him, as the loss wouldn't be too significant. However, selling or loaning the 22-year-old Danish international now would lead to substantial losses for the club.

Yet, trusting Hoylund comes at a cost; as the season reaches critical stages, if new signings Cunha and Mbeumo take the 10 role in a 3-4-3 formation, will Manchester United dare to risk keeping Hoylund as the main striker in the 9 position, especially when the bench consists only of Zirkzee and 18-year-old Chido Obi?

Compared to the center forwards of strong teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea, Manchester United's options appear quite meager. If they aim to compete for the title or even a top-four finish, the capabilities of the aforementioned three seem completely insufficient. For comparison, their rivals Liverpool have already signed Ekitike and are planning to spend over £100 million to bring in Isak!

Hoylund does have some unique qualities; if he can gain confidence, he might have more opportunities to score. However, he is like a chicken rib—neither tasty nor easy to discard, certainly not worth £72 million. Moreover, can Amorim afford to wait? If Manchester United's performance in the new season mirrors that of the second half of last season, the 40-year-old Portuguese manager will face calls for his dismissal.