Seems like there was a brief to the journos after last night’s negative result.

Various journos have come out saying basically the same thing:

[Ducker - T1] Manchester United want Rasmus Hojlund for start of Premier League as £51.4m deal offered

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/07/27/manchester-united-rasmus-hojlund-premier-league-deal-offer/

[Jamie Jackson - T2] Manchester United confident of signing Rasmus Højlund before season starts

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/27/manchester-united-confident-signing-rasmus-hojlund-before-season-starts-atalanta

[Simon Stone - T1] Rasmus Hojlund: Manchester United hopeful of deal before Premier League begins

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66323129

[Laurie Whitwell -T1] Manchester United planning how Rasmus Hojlund would be used if fee agreed with Atalanta. Club aiming for striker to join before start of Premier League season. Erik ten Hag says blank v Real Madrid “absolutely” shows why new CF needed.

https://twitter.com/lauriewhitwell/status/1684520288120197120?s=46