There’s a reason Pep Guardiola rated this Dane so highly. His intelligence and craft on the ball are enough to take him far, and he should surpass the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Jordy Clasie in the Southampton pecking order soon. In Claude Puel’s system, Højbjerg shares a large part of the vertical passing, but his workrate could improve. Moving to a mid-level English club was the right move for his career, especially with Pep parting ways, and it looks like he join the most exclusive rank in football: controller, a title only a handful of players in Europe can truly hold. I expect him to help Denmark qualify the World Cup, and for him to hone his skills in the south coast until he truly moves up to the elite level.
Photo Credit: Jens Dresling