Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, may lose a “very determined” player in January, with an exit appearing “likely”.
Players from Spurs who may depart
As they prepare for Crystal Palace this evening, the north Londoners are riding high right now, having won seven of their last nine Premier League games. Spurs fans have been enthralled with the form of star players Son Heung-min, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie, among others, as the revitalized team has reached unprecedented heights in the early part of the season.
Even so, there are a few players who have had difficulty getting opportunities during Postecoglou’s reign. In fact, Eric Dier—who hasn’t played a minute this season and is being urged to leave—and Pierre-Emile Hobjerg, who was a regular under Antonio Conte the previous season, are now less important. Due to Bissouma’s suspension, the former only started his first league game of the season on Monday against Fulham.
Barring any surprises, it appears likely that Hojbjerg will return to the bench after serving his one-match suspension. The Mali international will be eligible again. Speaking following their 2-0 victory over Fulham, Postecoglou praised the Denmark international while reiterating that he is still essential.
Postecoglou told the media, “I don’t think there was any time during the transfer window where I thought Pierre would move.”
“During our conversations, I learned that he was here to contribute and wanted to be a part of the project we were working on. While it is understandable that someone who performs frequently would have desired to play more, he has ultimately had to wait his turn because our performances have been excellent. In many of the games that we have needed to shore up late or that we have won late, he has also been crucial. He’s not the only one who has helped us; in fact, he hasn’t done much at all. He has played a crucial role for us.”
Hojbjerg’s departure seems likely
In spite of Postecoglou’s most recent remarks regarding Hojbjerg, it seems that his departure during the January transfer window is a very real possibility. Journalist Paul Brown states that it’s “quite likely” that Hojbjerg “will leave” Spurs in the middle of the season, given that the former Southampton player is reportedly “open” to doing so.
“Yes, I believe that Hojbjerg will most likely leave,” the former Daily Star reporter told GiveMeSport.
“The issue he faces is that most teams interested in him are only prepared to consider a loan, while Spurs are seeking a permanent agreement. Spurs believe he’s still worth at least £30 million, and I doubt any team will pay that much for him—at least not in January. It’s obvious that he would be amenable to a transfer, and he is aware that the Spurs manager won’t give him many playing opportunities. Therefore, it might be beneficial for all parties to find a solution here.” Recent reports suggest that Italy might be one of the destinations, as Juventus
