Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[wrd]

He showed exactly what he can bring today and it's easy to see how much we benefitted from his presence today but personally this has never been the dispute. The dispute has been whether we should risk the short term by selling a player who has a good value now, knowing this is probably the only time we can properly cash in, so we can free up a spot and strengthen elsewhere in the team. The risk being that Skipp clearly is not as good at doing that currently, however today showed the other benefit of selling Hojbjerg which is, that Skipp would have to be the player to be brought on or Sarr has to stay on and see the game out, that we can't turn to the dependable Hojbjerg, which forces the issue on Skipp/Sarr developing.

It is the notion of risking the good for the potential of great. We would be sacrificing points in the short term of that there is no doubt, it's about whether it will lead to something greater down the line, plus the benefit of potentially adding a much needed player elsewhere or even adding a player like Redondo. That's what needs to be judged. Personally I'd risk it, as much as I'm desperate to be swept up in what we're currently doing.

 

[mil1lion]

Always rated him but it's a difficult situation with the non homegrown. We can't just say lets keep them all. We have 8 for 3 positions at the moment. There's clearly no space for Ndombele so that is 1 off the books either as a loan, sale or released. Then we need to sell either Hojbjerg or Lo Celso because the balance between midfield and defence is way too big. Midfield is the one area that just makes sense to let a player go and honestly all 7 are good players so it's a tough one. We absolutely must sign a centre back. Maybe if we can get Tosin we could sell both Dier and Sanchez instead and keep Hojbjerg and Lo Celso but that leaves us with Tanganga who isn't good enough. We have a tough week to juggle this squad and I think it's why we're linked with players like Orban and Fati for attack who don't need to be registered yet or Johnson who is homegrown. It's centre back that I'm cncerned with and for me the likely sacrifice will come from midfield. Also once Bentancur is back we have that composure that Hojbjerg brought today and I think Skipp also did well off the bench while Lo Celso just fits. If Skipp wasn't homegrown I would add him to the mix of potential sales but it has to be Hojbjerg or Lo Celso if we are going to have space for 3 non homegrown centre backs.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Manchester United consider surprise move for Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

United have been offered chance to talk to Denmark midfielder with Erik ten Hag keen to strengthen his engine room

www.telegraph.co.uk

Man Utd consider surprise move for Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg​

United have been offered chance to talk to Denmark midfielder with Erik ten Hag keen to strengthen his engine room

Manchester United are considering a surprise move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

United have been offered the chance to open talks over Hojbjerg, who Tottenham are willing to sell before Friday’s transfer deadline.

Atletico Madrid had a bid of £30million accepted earlier in the summer for the 28-year-old but the move collapsed after a failure to agree personal terms.

The Danish international recently also turned down the chance to join the Saudi Pro-League despite being offered a highly lucrative salary package of £45million net of tax over the term of his contract.

Hojbjerg joined Spurs on a five-year deal for £15million from Southampton in 2020, when he became Jose Mourinho’s first summer signing, and has been a key senior player up until this season.

He has made two substitute appearances so far in the Premier League under new head coach Ange Postecoglou, who has preferred a pairing of Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr.

It remains to be seen whether United progress talks although their manager Erik ten Hag has been urging them to sign another central midfielder.

However, it also appears that United need to raise funds through sales. Sources close to Bayern Munich have played down suggestions that head coach Thomas Tuchel is keen to sign Scott McTominay who can leave United if an appropriate fee is offered. United have quoted £45million to interested clubs for the Scot but will have to accept less.

Instead, Tuchel’s priority is to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah on a permanent deal, rather than a loan, with negotiations progressing for the 24-year-old.

Talks have taken place at United to sign Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, who has appeared their top target, but an offer has not been made, as of yet, which suggests money needs to be brought into Old Trafford first.

Indeed, Amrabat’s representatives have grown frustrated at the lack of progress and are considering their options. Fiorentina appear to have taken the decision not to play the 27-year-old Moroccan international until the transfer window has closed.

Atletico have also shown interest in Amrabat but he has made it clear he prefers a move to the Premier League.

United have struggled in midfield since the start of the campaign and have also suffered a blow with new signing Mason Mount ruled out injured for three-to-five more weeks after damaging his hamstring.

United’s plans have also been complicated by an injury to Luke Shaw which has led them to look for an emergency left-back. Marc Cucurella, Marcos Alonso and Sergio Reguilon are on their target list.

 

[GioW]

Interesting...

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I was optimistic for a positive end to the transfer window but this just makes me think we will strengthen United and not replace him.

 

[GioW]

I was optimistic for a positive end to the transfer window but this just makes me think we will strengthen United and not replace him.

Could we potentially look at Amorabat I wonder?

 

[ZiggySpurs]

Don’t want this to happen at all, think he’d do well for them.

 

[HenriKane]

Atletico Madrid had a bid of £30million accepted earlier in the summer for the 28-year-old but the move collapsed after a failure to agree personal terms.

The Danish international recently also turned down the chance to join the Saudi Pro-League despite being offered a highly lucrative salary package of £45million net of tax over the term of his contract.

pretty sure we haven't accepted any Atleti bid though, and personal terms were not an issue according to Matteo Moretto

 

[arunspurs]

I would happily sell Hojbjerg to United for 35m or 40m if it means we go buy Amarabat or Paulinha .

 

[yawa]

I would happily sell Hojbjerg to United for 35m or 40m if it means we go buy Amarabat or Paulinha .

gotta be worth at least £95m seeing they spent £60m on Mount.

 

[Guntz]

For them it's gotta be at least £40m+

 

[Shep]

I am not against him leaving but I think the notion we are “ok” in midfield is a bit of a red herring.

We really need a viable back up, replacement, competition for Biss. I would love Redondo from Argentinos Juniors. He seems to be incredibly classy and I think under the tutelage of Postecoglu could become perfect in our system.

 

[SandroClegane]

I was optimistic for a positive end to the transfer window but this just makes me think we will strengthen United and not replace him.

I think we need to get players off the books that don't fit the long term vision, even if they have a year or two of success at a rival. I also don't thinkl Hojbjerg makes their midfield more dynamic, he's just as wooden as Casemiro and Mount.

 

[wrd]

What's this about 30 million and couldn't agree personal terms? That's the bit I'm more intrigued by.

 

[ButchCassidy]

I would sell them Reguilon - I don’t know if I would sell them Hojbjerg, not at a normal price anyway.

 

[arunspurs]

For them it's gotta be at least £40m+

He isnt their no1 target so we can’t be greedy. IMO we should take a reasonable profit & move on. Otherwise he will be yet another player on books where we sell at a significant loss.
Of course we need to upgrade him properly as well

 

[robertgoulet]

They can have Hojberg for 30M if they take Reggie for 20M as well.

 

[Ben1]

He isnt their no1 target so we can’t be greedy. IMO we should take a reasonable profit & move on. Otherwise he will be yet another player on books where we sell at a significant loss.
Of course we need to upgrade him properly as well

Honesty that sounds like a them problem

 

[Guntz]

He isnt their no1 target so we can’t be greedy. IMO we should take a reasonable profit & move on. Otherwise he will be yet another player on books where we sell at a significant loss.
Of course we need to upgrade him properly as well

This is the same club who got desperate on deadline day 10 years ago and spent nearly £30m on Fellaini

I think we're well within our rights to hold out for £40m+

 

[Snuzzy]

They're quoting 45m for McTominay so that should be presented as a bargain for a much more high calibre midfielder!