What Man Utd fans can expect from incoming striker Rasmus Hojlund
Danish football has a rich history of producing technically gifted players. The most exciting name to come out in recent times is Rasmus Højlund.
Coming through the youth ranks of his hometown club FC Copenhagen, Højlund broke through in the 2019/20 season. The Dane scored 15 goals in just 22 games for the U19’s, winning a call up to the senior side. When things didn’t quite go according to plan in terms of getting game time, Højlund didn’t wait around and packed his bags for SK Sturm Graz.
Some might call it impatience, but Højlund has a self belief that is fundamental in all world class players. That belief paid off, as the young striker was a revelation in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring 12 goals in 21 games. It was only a matter of time before some of the bigger European teams took notice, and it didn’t take long.
At the start of the 2022/23 season, after just seven months at Sturm Graz, Højlund joined Serie A club Atalanta for €17m, 10 times what Graz had paid, and highlighting the rapid rise in his status.
Over the course of his first season in a major European league, Højlund turned into a versatile tactical asset who can lead the line on his own, or as a part of a front two. After initially taking some time to settle, he exploded at the start of 2023 by scoring in three successive games as he forced himself in Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans.
Things just started to click for him on the pitch and he made headlines when playing for Denmark, by netting five goals in two Euro 2024 qualifying games.
The Danish International is now heavily linked to Manchester United and PSG. In only a few years the young kid from Copenhagen has become one of the most sought-after young talents in the world.
Rasmus Højlund Transfer Value - how much is he worth?
Højlund currently has an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of €24.4m. His value has almost doubled since the start of the year, mirroring his excellent on-pitch performances.
His reported price tag of over €70m might seem excessive, but interested clubs will need to pay a premium given the shortage of high-potential young centre-forwards in the market. A bidding war between clubs can take that price even higher.
Quite simply Hojlund is expected to become one of the biggest signings of the summer in the next few weeks. Somebody will pay the asking price.
Rasmus Højlund’s strengths and weaknesses - what does the data say?
Højlund already has many of the ingredients that are essential in a top-tier centre-forward.
Some strikers are experts at getting into goalscoring positions, some excel at dropping deeper to combine with teammates while others can be counter attacking threats. Højlund does all of the above.
The 20-year-old’s xG of 0.47 and xG/shot of 0.18 P90 show that he frequently gets on the end of high scoring goalscoring opportunities. This is primarily a testament to his excellent positioning in and around the box. The left-footed marksman keeps very busy in the attacking third with an incredible 10.99 progressive passes received and 6.53 touches in the box P90.
Often playing as the supporting striker at Atalanta, Højlund is adept at dropping deep to drag defenders out of position. He can also use all of his 1.91 metre frame to hold up the ball and circulate possession.
According to WhoScored, another one of his strengths is his dribbling. Unlike most players of his size, Højlund possesses great speed and agility. He combines that with a ball carrying ability that is among the best for players in his position. With 1.4 successful take-ons P90, he also has the confidence and quick feet to take on and beat his man, making him lethal in transition.
But he is not a finished article yet. As WhoScored stats point out, his defensive contribution is a weakness as he is not very involved in winning tackles and making interceptions for his team.
His finishing is yet another area that needs to be refined. A pattern that you will see with most elite finishers is that they tend to outperform their xG. With 0.44 goals P90 compared to a xG P90 figure of 0.47, the Atalanta man slightly underperformed his xG last season. With his best years still ahead, there is ample time to make improvements.
Strong links to Manchester United make sense as Erik ten Hag has prioritised signing a centre-forward this summer. Some might think that a transfer to a top team is a bit premature, but Højlund has adapted to the higher levels at both Sturm Graz and Atalanta quite effortlessly.
Although they are not totally identical in the way they play, there are already favourable comparisons with Erling Haaland. If he is given time to develop, there is no reason why Højlund can’t have a similar impact on the English top flight.
This article was provided by FootballTransfers
