Southampton have confirmed their second signing of the summer transfer window and it’s looking as though it could be a very good one as Denmark international Pierre-Emile Højbjerg joins the club on a fee believed to be around the £12.8 million mark.
Højbjerg, 20, has signed for Southampton on a five-year deal after ending his tenure with German giants Bayern Munich, where he made his senior debut.
The highly rated Dane has been brought in by Saints with a view to be a regular fixture in the side after the box-to-box midfielder endured spells at several Bundesliga clubs where he didn’t really get as much playing time as he, or Bayern, would have hoped.
His first loan spell away from Bayern was with FC Augsburg, where he made just 16 appearances for the German side in what was a considerably unsuccessful spell away from the Allianz Arena.
Then, Højbjerg was sent out on loan to Bayern’s fellow Bundesliga heavyweights Schalke 04 and the Denmark star endured a similar spell away with limited game time and chances to show his ability.
Despite making 23 appearances for Schalke, Højbjerg failed to hit the back of the net in any game and came back to Bayern without much to really show for himself apart from the potential to be a massive talent.
However, although potential is what Højbjerg predominantly offers, there are no doubts over his current ability.
Often touted as one of Europe’s best young talents in previous years, Højbjerg has certainly been no short of praise of the highest order from some of the world’s most prestigious footballing characters.
One man that has always been considerably fond of Højbjerg and his talents is former Bayern Munich, and now Manchester City, boss Pep Guardiola.
In his biography Pep Confidential, Guardiola is shown to have praised Højbjerg for his ability and likened him to Barcelona and Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets, claiming that the young Danish talent held similarities with Busquets and that their styles were not too indifferent.
Guardiola’s trust and admiration that he held in Højbjerg was represented when he started the then-18-year-old out on the right hand side in Bayern’s massive German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund; a bold move and a massive introduction on the big stage for the inexperienced youngster.
YouTube: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg vs Borussia Dortmund (DFB Pokal Final) 13-14 17.05.2014 720p HD
It was in this game that Højbjerg really did turn heads and catch the eyes of many as he impressed throughout with his maturity, composure and use of possession; the signs of a Guardiola-endorsed player.
However, although Højbjerg’s past may be of some interest to the Southampton faithful, they will be more interested in the here and now at the club and where Højbjerg will fit in with the current system.
The versatile midfielder is officially new boss Claude Puel’s first signing at the helm of the club, as Nathan Redmond was brought in subsequent to the Frenchman’s arrival at St Mary’s but assumably with some input from the former Nice manager.
It’s been well documented that Saints could be looking in the market for a new defensive midfielder to fill the void left by the departed Victor Wanyama, who sealed a move to Tottenham last month.
Now, Southampton would presumably be looking to replace the Kenyan powerhouse with a player in the similar mould; a strong, physically based midfielder that can be the hard man of the team.
However, with Oriol Romeu already at their disposal, it looks as though the club have opted to go with a more technically gifted player that can focus on being a box-to-box midfielder.
Højbjerg can play in a holding role, just ahead of the defensive midfielder or just behind the striker; his versatility will be key for Saints.
If you would be looking to draw similarities between Højbjerg and previous Saints players, you could easily say that he is more like Morgan Schneiderlin than he is like Wanyama; which could prove to be a very good decision from the club to focus on the development of a more technically based player.
Højbjerg’s work ethic and ability to play in multiple roles through the middle will be a key addition to Puel’s style of play, given his “attack as a team, defend as a team” approach and philosophy that he will look to implement into Saints’ overall style of play.
A key feature in Højbjerg’s game appears to be his efficiency and intelligent use of the ball when in possession, as shown in his stats, via Squawka.
Last season alone, in just 23 appearances with Schalke, Højbjerg’s pass accuracy amounted up to a massively impressive 88%, whilst his defensive work also stands out with a more than reasonable stat of 52 interceptions during his spell with the Bundesliga outfit.
It certainly looks to me like Højbjerg will be worth his weight in gold for Saints and is a perfect fit to our development-orientated ethos and approach to the game; but I don’t have the benefit of watching the youngster on as regular a basis as many out in Germany and those who frequently watched the Bundesliga in recent years do.
So, I asked German football writer and pundit Mark Lovell a few questions to really get a feel for what Højbjerg will bring to Southampton this season and in the coming years and whether we’ll be bringing in a player that will improve us.
Without further ado, here are some of my questions and some common questions from Saints fans regarding Højbjerg in recent days answered by Mark!
Firstly, do you think that the reported £12.8 million transfer is a good deal for all parties involved and why?
It’s too much money but Højbjerg needs regular football so needed to move to progress his career which has stagnated over the past four seasons. Clubs like Southampton are armed with a massive Premier League TV treasure chest and Bayern don’t sell players on the cheap and will have known the Saints had that massive Sadio Mane fee, burning a hole in their pockets.
Despite his sizable price tag, do you see Højbjerg being a success with Southampton?
He failed to make the breakthrough at Bayern and didn’t hit the heights during his loan spells elsewhere in the Bundesliga, but it’s not yet a case of now or never, he’s 21 next month and definitely has the talent to be a success with the Saints.
What are his key strengths?
He’s combative and strong in the tackle. He’s also got a big game know-how despite tender years; 17 full caps for the talented but not yet quite “Great Dane”. He’s tasted Champions League football at Bayern and Europa League at Schalke last season.
What are his main weaknesses?
Despite limited opportunities, he hasn’t scored enough goals in the Bundesliga for an offensive midfielder. My personal feeling is that he thinks he’s better than he is, but is over-confidence a weakness in a footballer?
In comparison to Saints’ current midfield options, how does Højbjerg compare and do you think he’ll start under Claude Puel?
Every player at St Mary’s will have the opportunity to impress the new boss during pre-season and clearly following the departures of Mane and Wanyama, spots are up for grabs in midfield. Especially to provide a fresh creative spark. Looking at those current options, the cupboard looks a bit bare so you have to assume that Højbjerg won’t be the last of the midfield summer signings.
Is Southampton the right club for Højbjerg?
As long as expectations are realistic and he’s given time to settle. My gut feeling says that will be more suited to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League; so, a tentative yes.
I’d like to thank Mark for taking the time to speak to me about Saints’ new boy and to thank him for giving such insightful answers to provide a bit more knowledge to us regarding what we can expect from Højbjerg! You can follow him on Twitter at @LovellLowdown and visit his website here: http://www.lovelllowdown.com/.
However well the signing of Højbjerg proves to be in the coming months, it’s clear to see that the future’s bright in red and white and this coming season will be an exciting one.
Vote in our poll below whether or not you think Højbjerg will be a good signing!
