Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg would prefer to join Tottenham despite interest from Everton and Manchester City and, according to Ekstra Bladet, he has already met Jose Mourinho at Spurs’ training ground.
With just two games remaining in the Premier League season, the battle to sign a former Southampton skipper is becoming more fierce by the day.
Perhaps encouraged by a series of insipid performances from Gylfi Sigurdsson and a man masquerading as Andre Gomes, Everton have stepped up their interest by making a bid of up to £25 million for Hojbjerg’s signature.
Manchester City have also thrown their hat into the proverbial ring, with Southampton demanding closer to £30 million for a man recently stripped of the captain’s armband.
Given that it was Pep Guardiola who taught Hojbjerg the ropes during his an intensive education at the Bayern Munich finishing school, you could forgive the Danish international for jumping at the chance to reunite with a legendary tactician at the Etihad.
As it stands, however, it seems that Guardiola will be pipped to the post by his old rival.
And it is not hard to imagine Mourinho rubbing his hands together with glee at the prospect of snapping up one of the Premier League’s most influential midfielders from right under Guardiola’s nose.
Ekstra Bladet claims that Spurs remains Hojbjerg’s preferred destination.
The 24-year-old has even visited Mourinho at the London giants’ training ground, with the midfielder’s combination of grit and guile seemingly making him the perfect fit for a Tottenham engine room severely lacking in both departments.
The Copenhagen-born enforcer has just one year left on his contract at Southampton and, much to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s frustration, has been reluctant to sign fresh terms.
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