After Napoli joined Juventus in the race to sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Tottenham Hotspur, new information is coming out about how much he could cost.
Hojbjerg has been linked with a move away from Tottenham for most of the season, although he has played in all but the opening game of the Ange Postecoglou era. The fact that he is coming to the end of the last 18 months of his contract means that the speculation will not be dispelled any time soon.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Juventus and Napoli are interested in talks with Tottenham over a loan deal that would bring Hojbjerg to Serie A.
Juventus need a replacement for the absent Paul Pogba and Nicola Fagioli, while Napoli will be without Andre-Franco Zambo Anguissa during the African Cup of Nations.
Hojbjerg could be a solution for both of them, but Tottenham will not allow him to leave on loan without a purchase commitment attached.
After all, their midfield will be even more depleted than Napoli’s due to the upcoming AFCON, where Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will be among the participants.
But Tottenham aren’t entirely against Hojbjerg’s departure if they can secure his replacement – and Football Insider has shed some more light on the terms they could put in place to seal the deal.
The British portal claims that Tottenham will demand £20 million to approve the sale of Hojbjerg. Such a transfer would only be possible if Spurs had someone else ready to take his place in their squad.
Tottenham would earn £5 million by selling Hojbjerg for £20 million after investing £15 million in his signature from Southampton in 2020.
He has never played in Serie A, but Juventus or Napoli could offer him a new challenge if they manage to raise the funds.
Hojbjerg’s terms might not suit a Serie A pair:
Both will be somewhat disappointed with Tottenham’s stance, as they would probably prefer to try before buying rather than be committed to it.
Whether either will be willing to make a bid for his permanent signature in January – or in the summer after his loan spell – is not yet known.
Hojbjerg has racked up 162 appearances for Tottenham, more than at any of his previous clubs.
Despite regular appearances off the bench, he has made only three first-team appearances in the Premier League this season and may be considering his future in north London.