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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur, has been linked with a move away from the club this summer. Football.london understands, however, that the club has no plans to trade the Danish international.
It comes after a spectacular season for Hojbjerg, who finished second in terms of playing time at Spurs behind Harry Kane with 3,986 minutes. Despite the fact that his form had deteriorated by the halfway point of the campaign, his bravery and leadership shone through.
This was certainly the case when he battled through a number of injuries to assist Antonio Conte’s depleted squad finish fourth. The Italian was full of praise for his midfielder in the midst of the top four race.
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“No one asked me about Pierre,” Conte stated after a 5-1 win over Newcastle in April. “But I think he does a wonderful job in every game, with the ball, without the ball, and physically.”
Hojbjerg, according to football.london, is a significant part of the Spurs dressing room and is part of the leadership group that has helped the club return to the Champions League by demanding the best from his teammates.
Spurs, though, have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old, which would be followed by the signing of Yves Bissouma from Brighton. As the club’s third summer signing, the Mali international cost around £25 million.
According to FBRef, the numbers when comparing the two are identical. Bissouma’s pass completion and dribble completion see him in the 91st and 90th percentile of Premier League midfielders respectively, while Hojbjerg is in the 90th for pass completion as well as the 92nd for passes attempted and 88th for progressive passes completed.
When it comes to defensive stats, Bissouma leads the team in tackles, interceptions, blocks, and clearances. His midfield opponent is a lot like him, with a strong showing in the final two.
It suggests that rather than one replacing the other, they could instead complement each other, with the club not looking to entertain any offers for the Dane.