Rasmus Winther Højlund, born Tuesday, February 4, 2003, is on the cusp of sealing his dream move to Manchester United. As is to be expected with anything relating to the Manchester outfit, negativity has begun to rear its familiar head, with many ‘credible’ individuals focusing on finances instead of football.
Depending on where you read your news, the fee ranges anywhere from €60 million to as high as £70 million. The 20-year-old hitman arrives as a relative novice compared to many of the strikers leading the line for United’s rivals, but disregarding the magnificent talent he possesses is nothing short of lazy.
Ignoring the transfer fee, naysayers also focus on the nine goals he contributed in Serie A. That is another lazy argument and a lack of knowledge about the player. Having made 87 appearances in his short career, he has supplied a goal in 31% of his games. That does not even factor in the eight assists contributed during the same period.
So, why has Erik ten Hag chosen Højlund as the focal point of his rebuild in England? We’ve already clarified he is more than capable of contributing to goals, but what else makes him unique? I am front and centre when it comes to beating the drum about the Dutchman’s systematic approach to management, and this 6’3 Danish International has all of the tools required to solidify United’s rebirth.
Let us begin with the obvious trait of his physicality and size. The Copenhagen man is formidable to the eye. Reminiscent of many great up-and-over centre forwards, he can hold off defenders with his strength and utilise that trait in cultivating position for himself and marauding teammates. Remember, he has never had anything close to the squad ability he will receive at United.
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I could copy and paste several flashy graphs to emphasise my point, but why? There is no need.
I move on to his pace. His speed will be an alarming reality call to the defenders across the Premier League and many of those who would sooner focus on finances while holding a C minus in ordinary leaving-cert maths. He is 6’3 and can run the 100m in under 11 seconds. We’re going to come back to this a little later.
A forgotten piece of information in this transfer is the player’s desire to play for the biggest club in the world. It is well known that he has supported the club since his early teens, and while many people may wave away the importance of this, I feel it would be naive to do so. Yes, footballers often focus on a pay packet; but having a player line out with a genuine desire to die for the badge can have its benefits – ask the class of ’92.
Now, having elaborated on some of the player’s traits, we move on to his place in this squad and focus on how Ten Hag has stated that he wants to make his side the best in transition in world football.
Only 14 short months ago, The Reds’ chief arrived and laid down his ideals for this side. It replicated the systematic approach he had applied throughout his career. It was based on acquiring players to fit a system – instead of players that a squad had to be structured around. But Shaun, what system are you talking about?
It is well known that the 53-year-old structures his sides to build from the back and start with the goalkeeper. Holding midfielders will drop deep centrally, and full-backs will narrow their positions to accommodate a passing channel. During the earliest instances, a line of six players will engage with the football to draw the opposition forward, relying on space creation in the middle of the field.
As the ball moves from defence to midfield, the centre-backs will push up the pitch, and the full-backs will join the attacking phase. They will become inverted, often adding additional bodies to the middle channel and the final third. The wingers and striker will drop slightly deeper to collect the ball, often allowing overlaps from the marauding full-backs and the number 10.
It is a structured design that requires outlets available to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. During these moments, a long ball may be played to alleviate a tricky situation, and the hold-up play of a powerful centre forward has always been key to those scenarios. This hold-up play draws central defenders onto the attacker, opening space for attacking midfielders to occupy while wingers break inverted channels and full-back overlap into the final third.
Take it for what you will, but it is completely unsurprising to me that the manager praises the contribution of Anthony Martial – highlighting his importance to build-up phases and recognising that the team played its best football while he was on the field. He was crucial to partaking in this systematic approach. It is a key reason why he was kept at Old Trafford.
For many years under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United were devastating on the counterattack, dismantling elite sides in a moment on the break. The joy of turning defence into attack in a split second is a remarkable sight, and the acquisition of Højlund supplies an entirely new string to the United bow.
The manager has created a squad of ball-playing defenders and midfielders while adding the most technical goalkeeper in world football. When considering a frontline of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Højlund, there is a wealth of pace down either wing, with an enormous striker who can match them stride for stride – remember how quickly he can run the 100m?
Not only can this team rely on a midfield of technically gifted players in Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen to keep the opposition busy, but there is also the outlet to transition from retention to attack in the blink of an eye.
Rashford was sensational last season and often kept his side in games with his blistering pace and ability to emphasise his brilliance. However, there were many moments where he would break the lines, find himself on the edge of the box and not have a number 9 waiting for his pass at the back post.
Rashford is undeniably fast, and the Dane can match him throughout the attacking phases and offer an outlet for the Wythenshawe sensation. You see, he’s not just a big centre-forward – he’s a technically brilliant footballer with pace to burn and an engine which places him in the top 3 percentile of the best players in world football.
So, is Rasmus Højlund the critical piece of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United puzzle? I believe he can make an immediate impact in his new manager’s system. If ten Hag could have gone into a showroom with a list of requirements, the blonde-haired forward would certainly have been presented.
Not only do I feel that he can make an immediate impact, I know that he can grow into an even greater threat and make this transfer fee seem a bargain. I have been watching football since the 80s, and while I would never suggest that I know everything, I have seen enough of this young man to be more than a little bit excited.
I promise you that you should be a little bit excited too!
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Thanks for this informative and insightful article. Definitely getting excited about this player! Big, strong, fast, works hard, skilful – and left footed but, unlike Antony, decent right as well.
Great article! I too think Hojlund will have a very good season – progressing to great seasons in the coming years.
This guy, Rashford, Martial (when not injured ), Garnacho, Pellistri; next season could be payback for some of the stuff we’ve endured since Sir Alex called it a day. And if Sancho and Antony step up to the expected levels, well, wow.
Bring it on!