Tottenham Hotspur intend on keeping Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg next season despite the £25million arrival of Yves Bissouma from Brighton.
Bissouma has arrived on a four-year-deal from the Seagulls, as Antonio Conte made moves to strengthen his midfield ahead of next season as his side prepare for a return to Champions League football. But the arrival of the highly-rated Mali international cast doubt over Hojbjerg’s future in north London, despite him being a key man for the Italian last term.
After a tricky start to the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, like the majority of the Spurs first-team, Hojbjerg revived himself for the second half of the season following Conte’s appointment in November and became a pivotal part of the side that went on to secure a top four finish. The 26-year-old missed just two of Tottenham's 38 top flight fixtures and made 48 appearances across all competitions last season, and was only behind Harry Kane in terms of playing time at Spurs, with 3,986 minutes played, in which he recorded three goals and four assists.
But questions have been asked over whether he could be sold following Bissouma's arrival, and given the impressive way January signing Rodrigo Bentancur has taken to life in North London. However, as first reported by football.london, Spurs have no intention of selling the Danish international this summer.
Hojbjerg plays a big role in the Spurs dressing room and is part of Conte's 'leadership group' alongside the likes of Kane and club captain Hugo Lloris. He also impressed his manager with his desire to play through injury last term.
Speaking after the 5-1 rout of Newcastle in April, the Italian was full of praise for the Dane, declaring: "Pierre, no one asked me about him. But I think in every game he is doing a fantastic job, with the ball, without the ball, strong physically."
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Hojbjerg has sparked up a strong partnership with January signing Bentancur, following his arrival from Juventus on deadline day; they started together in 15 of Tottenham ’s last 18 matches of the season.
Bissouma arrives having been one of the standout performers on the south coast during his four-year tenure, in which he scored six goals in 124 appearances, including one goal and two assists last season as Brighton secured an impressive ninth-placed finish in the top flight under Graham Potter.
Spurs are looking to sell both big-money flops Tanguy Ndombele and Giovanni Lo Celso this summer, while Harry Winks could also be set to depart. He's understood to be valued at around £20million.
