Rasmus Hojlund has revealed that the opportunity to work with Erik ten Hag was a big factor behind his move to Manchester United.

The Denmark striker has secured a £72million move from Atalanta and described ten Hag as ‘one of the best coaches in the world’.

Hojlund says that after talking to ten Hag he was convinced that joining United would be ‘perfect’ for his development and he is relishing the opportunity to work under the Dutchman.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Hojlund said : ‘Once I had spoken to the manager, I knew that this environment would be perfect for my development; I am relishing the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches in the world. Under his guidance and support I know that I am capable of achieving great things together with my new teammates at this special club.’

The 20-year-old was unveiled at Old Trafford on Saturday ahead of the pre-season friendly against Lens and says he is ready to make the step up and make an impact at United. 

Rasmus Hojlund says Erik ten Hag helped to persuade him to join Manchester United 

Hojlund expressed his excitement after he completed his move to Old Trafford

Hojlund added that it has been his dream since he was a small boy to walk out of the tunnel at Old Trafford.

He said: ’It is no secret that I have been a fan of this great club since I was a small boy, and I dreamed of walking out at Old Trafford as a Manchester United player. I am incredibly excited by this opportunity to turn that dream into a reality, and I am determined to repay the faith that the club has shown in me. 

‘It is still early in my career, but I know that I am ready to make this step up and play with this group of world-class players.’

Hojlund has scored six goals in just six appearances for Denmark.

After starting his senior career at Copenhagen, he earned a move to Sturm Graz, for whom he scored 12 goals in 21 games.

Hojlund then found the net ten times in 34 appearances for Atalanta. 

In addition to Hojlund, United have also signed Mason Mount and Andre Onana. 

Hojlund says that he dreamed of walking out of the tunnel at Old Trafford for United

GPs may be urged to refer Brits to life coaches instead of just automatically signing them off sick, it was claimed today. 

Ministers hope the planned shake-up could help tackle the UK’s sick note crisis, with a record 2.5m people now on long-term sick leave.

Fit notes — handed out by doctors, physiotherapists and pharmacists — are currently issued to patients who’ve been off work ill for over a week.

Patients are either declared ‘unfit for work’, or their employer is told they ‘may be fit for work’ subject to adaptations to their job role or workplace. For example, this may include sticking to limited hours or taking on different duties. 

But one option currently under consideration by officials at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may see an extra option added to the note, The Times reports. 

Latest figures show a record 2.55million Brits are currently signed off on long term sickness leave. The worrying stats, published in May was blamed partly on back and neck pain caused by working from home. A rise in mental health problems among young people and long Covid were also among the factors behind the surge, according to experts at the Office for National Statistics

There were just 27,558 full-time equivalent, fully qualified GPs working in England in June 2022 down 1.6 per cent on 2021. This was down 5.3 per cent on the more than 29,000 working in June 2017

Generally 4 week waits have become more common over time, accounting for an increasing proportion of GP appointments, although levels peaked in late 2022 they have remained high this year as well 

This would allow GPs to automatically refer patients to support schemes or programmes, when classifying them as potentially able to work with the right help. 

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the proposal has ‘merit in principle’, acknowledging that working can be ‘beneficial’ for patients.

But she said the doctors would decide on the ‘health and wellbeing of an individual, not meeting government targets for keeping people in work’.

Under a ‘universal support’ programme, up to 50,000 people currently not working due to mental health, debt or other problems, could be referred to life coaches.

The scheme is already in force in 12 pilot areas across the UK, but officials accept the fit note system should only be officially updated nationwide, once support schemes become more widely available.

A Government source told The Times: ‘The general view is that parity of esteem between mental and physical health, as well as what’s happened with Covid, has meant that more people are being signed off sick.’

They added: ‘It’s led to a huge increase in the size of the welfare state. 

‘Nobody is talking about cutting benefits, that would be politically disastrous, but we are looking closely at how we can incentivise people to go back to work.’ 

A record 2.5million people were not working due to long-term sickness in the first three months of the year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

It means that for every 13 workers, there is one person unemployed because of their illness.

This is up from 2million in 2019, before the Covid pandemic struck.

The worrying trend was blamed partly on back and neck pain caused by working from home.

A rise in mental health problems among young people and long Covid were also among the factors behind the surge, according to experts at the Office for National Statistics.

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride hopes reforms will help tackle the problem.

Under plans floated by The Treasury and DWP earlier this year, it was claimed that GPs would be encouraged to issue fewer sick notes.

But the British Medical Association hit back at the ‘ridiculous’ push, arguing that the move ‘undermines’ doctors’ expertise and ‘puts patients and the wider community at risk’.

PFL have confirmed that former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has signed an ‘exclusive global MMA strategic partnership’ with the organisation. 

Ngannou had been one of the biggest names in the UFC before a dispute over his contract terms led to his departure in December last year.

His exit sent shockwaves throughout the MMA community, as many speculated where he would take his business. Some had suggested PFL, while others tipped him to make strides in the boxing world. 

Now the Cameroonian has signed an ‘exclusive partnership’ deal that will see him receive equity and take on leadership roles in the PFL whilst also being allowed to pursue boxing fights elsewhere.

Speaking on the move, Ngannou told the New York Times: ‘The past few months have been a very interesting time to understand and see the landscape but I’m very excited about this deal with the PFL because they basically showed what I was expecting.

PFL have confirmed the signing of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou

The Cameroonian fighter left the UFC after a breakdown in contract negotiations last year 

‘They didn’t just show up as a promotion that was looking for a fighter, but really came as a partner that sees more value in you as a person.’ 

It’s understood that Ngannou plans to have his first PFL fight in mid-2024, with the Cameroonian keen to have one boxing bout before entering the SmartCage.

There have been rumours that the ex-UFC champion will take on Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua, though there’s yet to be any serious development.

Ngannou, 36, will take part in PFL’s Super-fight division, which allows fighters to earn at least 50 per cent of the pay-per-view [PPV] revenue. Compared with the UFC’s 20 per cent cut for fighters, it remains an enticing opportunity.

‘The Predator’ had been one of the biggest names in the UFC, prior to his exit, but felt unvalued by company chiefs when he sat down to discuss a new deal. 

Speaking on his new PFL contract, Ngannou said: ‘Let’s just say, all-in my deal with PFL is more than anyone else offered’. 

During a fascinating appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour in January, Ngannou accused UFC officials of turning down three requests on behalf of his fellow fighters; covering sponsorship rights, free health insurance and an advocate to represent them in board meetings.

British heavyweight Tyson Fury has previously hinted at a cross-over bout with Ngannou

Along with Ngannou, PFL’s other new recruit – Cedric Doumbe – recently suggested his deal with the organisation is worth ‘ten times’ what the UFC had offered him. 

Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport in March, PFL’s director of operations for Europe – Dan Hardy – highlighted his desire to improve fighter pay and welfare.

‘Unfortunately, the biggest part of the politics around MMA, is the stubbornness of the promoters and the poorness of the fighters,’ Hardy said. 

‘We need to put money in these fighters’ pockets so they can train and prepare properly. PPV fights would give people like Anthony Pettis, or Jake Paul if he decided to cross over to MMA, an opportunity to access the cash that they’re generating. 

‘We talk about someone like Francis Ngannou, who I desperately hope signs with the PFL, you’ve got to think that he’s worth so much more than what he was being paid.

‘Everything with the PPV shows is going to be on the table for the fighters. They’re going to know what they’re worth because they can generate the cash themselves.’