Former Premier League chairman Simon Jordan believes Ange Postecoglou should cash in on Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg if the Tottenham Hotspur duo are no longer part of his plans.
No one could ever accuse Tottenham’s straight-talking head coach of being afraid to make the big decisions. And it hasn’t taken Postecoglou long to shunt Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – two of the first names on the Tottenham team sheet under Antonio Conte – rather unceremoniously towards the exit.
Dier has not made a single appearance so far in 2022/23. Hojbjerg, meanwhile, has played only 44 minutes in the Premier League; Yves Bissouma’s revival and Pape Sarr’s emergence restricting the opportunities afforded to a man who arguably lacks the poise in possession to truly thrive as a Postecoglou midfielder.
And Jordan, the former Crystal Palace chief, believes that Postecoglou should back himself to make some big changes to the Spurs dressing room as he looks to put his own, possession-based stamp on a new-look side.
Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could leave Tottenham
“It’s absolutely right. If you are going to lead something, you go hard or you go home,” Jordan tells talkSPORT (29 August, 11am).
“If he doesn’t believe those profile of players fit the play that he wants, what’s the point of mucking about? He might as well get to the money shot, which is ‘you’re not going to play’.
“Get on with it, and be definitely right or definitely wrong. Hopefully definitely right. If Dier and Hojbjerg are not good enough in his view for the framework of what he wants to build, move them out he should!”
Dier, according to the Daily Mail, would prefer to see out the final year of his Tottenham contract before leaving on a free in 2024. Hojbjerg, meanwhile, has reportedly been offered to a Manchester United side looking to reinforce a somewhat thin midfield (The Telegraph).
The Dane is reportedly a target for La Liga giants Atletico Madrid too. Los Colchoneros boss Diego Simeone has spoken openly about his desire to bring in another deep-lying central midfielder.
“We need a midfielder to share that spot with Koke and give that position more competition,” Simeone admits. “The season is long, the characteristics of those we have around Koke are not pure midfielders.
“(Geoffrey) Kondogbia left (for Marseille). We see (Axel) Witsel more as a centre-back, although he can play as a midfielder. But we believe that we are going to compete better with the arrival of another midfielder. (One who) gives us personality, ability and internal competition.”
“The club will decide (who to sign).”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
