Tottenham risk missing out on the signing of Southampton’s Pierre Emile Hojbjerg after his manager sent a warning to his suitors.
The Dane has told the Saints that he wishes to leave them for a bigger team in the summer and he won’t be extending his contract with them.
Tottenham has emerged as his preferred destination, but they are being rivalled for his signature by Everton.
The Lilywhites are struggling to meet Southampton’s asking price with Daniel Levy typically looking to drive a hard bargain.
Southampton’s manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, has, however, sent a warning to the Lilywhites and his other suitors that the midfielder will stay with them and leave on a free transfer after next season if no team meets their asking price.
He made this known via Sky Sports after his team’s final game of the season against Sheffield United.
“He has one more year on his contract, for me one more year means a lot in football,” Hasenhuttl said as quoted by HITC.
“If there is no club that pays us what we want for him, then he will stay with us for another year, no problem.”
Jose Mourinho sees Hojbjerg as a player that will make his team better in midfield (Express), and as he looks to help the Lilywhites win the Europa League, he will hope that he can land the former Bayern Munich man.
Spurs have sold Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen within the last two seasons and they are yet to adequately replace both players, Hojbjerg might plug the holes left by those departures.
But with Levy doing the negotiations, well, no need to say any more is there?