Rasmus Højlund: The Danish "Haaland" attracts attention ahead of summer transfers
Rasmus Højlund's name has been on the lips of many football enthusiasts ahead of the summer transfer window. The Danish striker has been in superb form for his club, and his shocking strikes at the Euro 2024 Qualifiers have further bolstered his stock.Some players even bet on him to end the season as Atalanta's top scorer, just like Haaland at Man. City, others would instead take their chances at no ID verification operators provided by Nongamstopsites.com experts.
Either way, stay with us till the end as we discuss Højlund's recent performances, his comparisons with Haaland, potential transfer destinations, and how he could fit into the playing styles of various clubs.
Rasmus Højlund: The future star of European football
Rasmus Højlund is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Atalanta. He was born in Denmark on August 23, 2001, and began his football career at a young age, playing for local youth teams.He made his professional debut for FC Copenhagen in 2019, and since then, he has established himself as a critical player for the club. In his first entire season with the team, he made 25 appearances and scored five goals.
He scored 15 goals in 22 appearances the following year when he was just a 17-year-old playing in the U-19s, attracting the attention of SK Sturm Graz, which quickly signed him in January of 2022. According to Wikipedia, after another 12 goals and four assists, the Danish boy was going to Atalanta on a £17 Million deal.
Since his arrival in the Serie A club, he's been a significant contributor to the attack. He was praised for contributing to the 2-0 win against Lazio. The performance excited Gian Piero Gasperini, leading him to predict that the youngster has a bright career ahead of him.
One of Højlund's biggest strengths is his ability to score goals. He has shown a natural talent for finding the back of the net, and his goal-scoring record speaks for itself. In the 2020-21 season, he had an impressive 28% shot accuracy, averaging 2.3 shots per game.
In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding his name in the football world. Due to his impressive performances at the Bergamasca Calcio and the Denmark National team. He gained even more popularity in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, sending three goals into the back of Finland's net and scoring a brace in the first half against Kazakhstan to join the list of Denmark's top scorers. This further cemented his position as one of the top young players to watch out for in Europe's top sides.
The comparisons with Haaland increase the expectations
Haaland is a sensational "goal robot," as many fans would claim on social media. The Manchester City forward has been outstanding since his days as a Salzburg player. He broke records and created waves in Borussia Dortmund before moving to the City. And so far this season, he's scored 33 goals with an outstanding stat of 1.14 per match.Despite these insane stats, many controversial topics have appeared online, tagging Højlund as "Haaland 2.0" because of their similarity in agility and quest for goals. When comparing Rasmus Højlund and Erling Haaland, three key areas stand out: physique, positioning, shots, and ball efficiency.
Both players are tall, with the latter being taller at 6 foot 5. They also share similar physical attributes, including long blonde hair, solid left foot, and a brutish playing style.
Regarding positioning, the two strive to stay in central areas. Despite playing in various systems for his Serie A club, Højlund prefers to get on the ball in major areas rather than opting for wider areas like regular strikers.
Regarding shots and ball efficiency, Haaland has the edge in terms of volume, averaging 3.6 shots per 90 compared to Højlund's 2.2 shots per 90. He also has a higher xG per 90 average of 0.89 compared to Højlund's 0.42. However, it's important to note that Højlund is two years younger, and his potential for improvement is still high.
In a lofty praise from the Atalanta coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, he said: "He (Højlund) has very similar characteristics to Haaland, not just his face. He is so quick, under 11 seconds over 100m, that's not even trying very hard."
With his current pace, there is a high chance that the striker would end up as Atalanta's top scorer like Erling is for Manchester City this season. The good news is that these comparisons have continued to bring Højlund into the spotlight further. According to The Sun, he has drawn the attention of big club names such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, etc., which will give him more career and growth options.
Højlund's dilemma: Top-club transfer or staying in Atalanta?
Regarding his future, deciding to stay or leave Atalanta and pursue a top-club transfer ultimately depends on his goals and ambitions. If he is content with continuing to develop his skills and career, there's no reason why he shouldn't remain at the club. However, if he's looking to compete at the highest level and win trophies, a move to a top club may be necessary.If he decides to move on, several clubs could be interested in his services. Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Juventus are all potential destinations linked to him. Each of these clubs has a unique playing style that could suit Højlund's strengths, considering he's proven his adaptability by being third on Atalanta's top scorer list.
Manchester United is a team that likes to play fast-paced attacking football, which would fit his brutish playing style. On the other hand, Arsenal plays a possession-based game and could benefit from Højlund's efficient ball use. Newcastle would be an exciting destination as well, as they are a team looking to establish themselves in the Premier League fully and could benefit from his potential.
Likewise, Real Madrid and AC Milan are two European giants that could offer him the chance to play in the Champions League and compete for major trophies. Juventus is another team with a rich history of success and could be an excellent destination for him to continue his development.
On the contrary, staying at Atalanta could also prove fruitful for Højlund's career. The club has a reputation for developing young talent, and he could continue to hone his skills under the guidance of Atalanta's coaching staff. It would provide him with consistent playing time and the opportunity to further establish himself as a critical player in the squad.
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