Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham masterplan will become a lot clearer over the next few weeks with the 2023/24 Premier League season edging ever closer. Taking charge of Spurs training for the very first time last Saturday, we are now just over five weeks away from the Lilywhites taking on Brentford in their Premier League opener.
Already making a move in the transfer market with three players signing on the dotted line and Manor Solomon set to follow, it has been rather quiet in terms of outgoings so far. Only Harry Winks has moved on for a fresh challenge elsewhere, with more expected to follow ahead of the new term.
Despite making 145 appearances in his three seasons with Tottenham, there are question marks hanging over Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's head as Postecoglou plots for the future. A virtual ever-present since joining from Southampton in August 2020, the Dane has started all but five Premier League games for Tottenham from a possible 114 in his time in the capital.
That is some contribution from the 27-year-old, including playing every single minute of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, with the player also stepping up in the final third to chip in with ten goals and 16 assists for Spurs. Building a very good partnership alongside Rodrigo Bentancur from January 2022 onwards, the pair went from strength to strength last season and were major players in the first part of the campaign under Antonio Conte as they contributed with goals and assists at vital times.
Hojbjerg's form, as well as the team's, did tail off in the second part of the campaign, with Bentancur's season-ending injury potentially playing a part in his struggles. Previously a midfield general for Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Conte and Ryan Mason due to his leadership skills and what exactly he can offer on the pitch, it's not clear at present where exactly the ex-Southampton player will fit into Postecoglou's blueprint.
Operating with a midfield two in Hojbjerg's three seasons at the club, the new manager will deploy a midfield three as he has done at his previous clubs. Whoever takes on the No.6 position will have a vital role to play as Postecoglou needs someone who can drop deep, collect the ball from the centre-backs and then play the ball out wide to the full-backs and wingers.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou is about to do something at Tottenham that will 'unsettle' Man City and Arsenal
The No.6 will then be joined in Postecoglou's team by two No.8s, who will be given licence to push forward and help in attack and also move wide at times to take up the space which has been left by the inverted full-backs. Bentancur will take up one of these roles and the same goes for new signing James Maddison, with Tanguy Ndombele, if he is part of Postecoglou's plans, Pape Matar Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski also capable of playing there.
In terms of the No.6, it seems made for Yves Bissouma with the Mali international having all the attributes to be a major success there after a nightmare first season with Tottenham. Bissouma also has plenty of experience to his name in the position having been utilised there in his final season with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Hojbjerg perhaps isn't a natural fit for either role unless Postecoglou decides to transform him to take up one of the two midfield positions in his team. It unfortunately does leave the player, who is currently enjoying his summer break after his international commitments in June, in limbo and the head coach's plans for him will likely become clear once the team return to the field for their four pre-season games.
If Tottenham are to part with the player, who has been linked with a summer switch to Atletico Madrid, they shouldn't be short of options due to Hojbjerg's age and experience for both club and country. Valued at £38 million by Transfermarkt, Spurs will be able to bring in a considerable fee for the player and then put that towards strengthening Postecoglou's playing squad in the process.
This summer does represent the ideal time to sell Hojbjerg if that is to be the club's final decision as he is now in the last two years of his contract and his value will only decrease over time. The Denmark international must be replaced if he is to be sold as Spurs need to ensure they have sufficient options in the middle of the park under Postecoglou, especially with Bissouma potentially missing a number of games in January and February depending on how exactly Mali fare at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Bringing in another leader is also a must as Hojbjerg's skills in that department will be a huge miss if he is to leave for a new challenge as he is a key voice in the dressing room. Already short on leaders as it is, Spurs could potentially find themselves in a position where their four-man leadership group - the spine of the Tottenham team - all exit.
The group comprises of Hojbjerg, Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier and Harry Kane, with the final three players all now in the final year of their Tottenham contract. A summer of change in north London and an opportunity for Tottenham to reset after an extremely disappointing few years, Hojbjerg could well find himself part of the big changes as Spurs plan ahead for the future.
Who would you keep or sell at Spurs this summer? Have your say below!
