On Monday it was announced that Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has completed his switch from Bayern to Southampton.
This is a move that sees him becoming the joint most expensive player in Danish history. There is a feeling in Denmark among experts that Højbjerg had to secure a move away from Bayern to reach his potential and the news of the transfer has been welcome by many of us following him.
For me, his development would have stagnated at Bayern if he had chosen to stay and fight his way into Ancelotti’s plans. Most likely, he would have faced another loan spell somewhere in the league.
The move to Southampton is a very good choice for him. Southampton is known for developing young players and giving them a chance to fulfill their potential and it is exactly that kind of environment he needs.
He is 20-years old, however, he is very mature for his age. He made his debut for the Danish national team at the age of 18 and is destined for great things at national level having made some fairly impressive performances.
However, he has failed to break through in Germany, in my opinion, when you know what he is capable of doing.
Of course, becoming the youngest to feature for Bayern at senior level is some achievement, but he hasn’t impressed at Augsburg and Schalke like I expected he would. With that said, Southampton fans should be more than thrilled about the prospect of Højbjerg in the future.
He might use the first season to find his feet and role in a new club but he’s certainly capable of being a regular already. Hopefully he will get a lot of minutes as soon as possible, as it will help developing some of the extraordinary tools he already possesses.
It looks like he is someone that Claude Puel personally signed and I sincerely hope so.
Because, for Højbjerg to flourish, he will need a manager who believes in him and a manager that will develop him further. With this, I mean to specialise him.
Højbjerg can play in a number of positions across the midfield and I feel that if he could specialise in a certain role, that would allow him to be excellent in one position rather than just good at several positions but not excelling in one of them.
I believe he would be a fantastic deep-lying playmaker for Southampton if Claude Puel decides to use and develop him at that position. He’s got all the tools, in my opinion, to really be something different and set himself apart from others in that position.
He is a really good passer on the ball and very intelligent in possession. He rarely loses the ball and, if so, he is one of the first players to get the ball back. He is superb within a team that presses high as a unit; it often allows him to intercept the ball in crucial positions due to his great positioning and to set up his teammates.
Even though he didn’t score while a Schalke, he’s always a threat from the distance as well with his preferred right foot.
I genuinely hope Højbjerg will be a huge success and I hope that he will apply his trait at Saints for the next couple of years. He plays with fantastic passion and always give 100%. I can’t wait to see him in the Premier League and wish him all the best with an exciting move.
