Lucas Høgsberg is on the shortlist at Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea, according to an exclusive report from German outlet 4-4-2 published on Thursday. The 20-year-old Danish defender arrived at Racing Strasbourg only last summer, and the French club now want more than double what they paid for him a year ago.
Høgsberg’s representatives have opened indirect contact with Arsenal and Newcastle about a possible move before deadline day. According to 4-4-2, the player himself is receptive to a switch to England.
The fee: €15m a year ago, €35m today
Strasbourg have set the asking price at around €35m. That is more than double the roughly €15m fee they paid Nordsjælland to sign him in the summer of 2025. Høgsberg is under contract in Alsace until June 2030, so any suitor has to meet the French club’s valuation.
Chelsea in the background
The three-club race is not evenly balanced. Arsenal and Newcastle are the two sides actually in dialogue with the player’s camp. Chelsea are holding back for now, though 4-4-2 reports the London club could push forward if no rival strikes first.
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Both English suitors are looking to add central defensive depth in the closing days of the window.
From Nordsjælland to Ligue 1
Høgsberg came through the academy at Nordsjælland, where he had been since the age of three. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 17 August 2025, keeping a clean sheet as Strasbourg beat Metz 1-0.
He plays primarily as a centre-back but can cover either full-back position, and is a ball-playing defender suited to a possession-based system. He has six caps for Denmark.
In Danish media before his move to France, he described his approach without qualification.
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“I don’t want to change my style of play. I play as I am, whether it’s on the national team or at the club.”
Four days to the deadline
The Premier League window closes at 11pm BST on Tuesday, 1 September.
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