Rasmus Højlund: The Danish Forward Drawing Comparisons to Erling Haaland and Dušan Vlahović

Danish football has a rich history of producing technically superior footballers. The Laudrup brothers, Preben Elkjær Larsen, and John Dahl Tomasson, are all widely regarded as some of the best footballers Denmark as a nation has been able to produce and have reached the pinnacle of European football.; Christian Eriksen is a name many modern-day fans also associate with modern Danish football, and he also joins the list among the greats in his nation. 

But the talent pipeline has slowed down in recent years, with the recent success of the national team being founded on the existing talent within the core and relying on the later peak of some of its essential parts to flourish near the end of their careers, ala Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjær and Eriksen. It's been relatively quiet on the attacking end of the production line in Denmark, with much of the more promising talent on the younger scale coming in the defensive side; Andreas Christensen, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Mæhle and Alexander Bah.

Danish supporters would've been encouraged when contending Austrian side Sturm Graz signed then-19-year-old Rasmus Højlund from Copenhagen for a minimal fee of €1.8 million. Højlund's rise from his hometown side Copenhagen, where he played a crucial role in their progression through the qualification stages of the Europa Conference League, has been rapid; a come-up that has been seen on the international stage — making his senior debut for the national squad just a few months later.

With the shortage of high-potential young centre-forwards at a reasonable financial level, Højlund provided an attractive option, and his performances in central Europe quickly drew attention from various clubs. His efficiency in his early career was admirable — 12 goals in 21 appearances — but his game was very moldable.