Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Danny Murphy is ‘surprised’ to hear that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be let go by the Premier League giants following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou.
Murphy’s shock, however, is not quite an emotion not shared by everyone of a Spurs persuasion.
When it emerged earlier this month that Postecoglou would be leaving Celtic in order to take over from Antonio Conte in North London, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was one of those – alongside Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez and co – who’s longevity found itself being called into question by Tottenham supporters expressing their excitement on social media about what promises to be a bold new era.
Hojbjerg fighting for his future at Tottenham
Hojbjerg, a £15 million signing during the Jose Mourinho era, was one of the first names on the team sheet for a Tottenham side who tended to sit deep and hold their shape out of possession. Postecoglou, however, will install a more proactive, positive approach.
And while Hojbjerg’s lack of technical ability has been exaggerated at times, you could make the case that Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp and even Harry Winks are better suited to a deep-lying midfield role in a Postecoglou team.
Murphy, however, is convinced the former Southampton and Bayern Munich ace still has plenty to offer.
“Surprised a bit, with Hojbjerg,“ Murphy tells talkSPORT (14 June, 11am). “I think he’s terrifically tenacious. You need one in the middle who does what he does. Honest as the day is long. Tidy on the ball. Always there, durable, doesn’t miss many games, helps the defenders.
“I am surprised at that one.”
The Sun believe that Hojbjerg’s future is currently ‘in the balance’ at Tottenham.
The Daily Mail, meanwhile, are suggesting that Postecoglou could launch a summer raid on his old employers with the masterful Reo Hatate – the man’s swivelling hips and proving passes who made his Celtic team tick – could be an option to follow in the former Australia boss’s footsteps.
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