Sports'Would expect Spurs to pay' - Pundit tips Levy to splash the cash for top Mourinho target
Former Spurs star Michael Brown believes Tottenham will be willing to pay more for Southampton skipper Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the player-turned-pundit feels Daniel Levy will wait for the right moment to strike before signing Hojbjerg.
Earlier this year, Sky Sports revealed that Jose Mourinho has made it clear the midfielder is at the top of his shortlist of transfer targets.
Last week, The Times reported that the Saints will demand at least £35m for the club captain this summer. Spurs had initially hoped he would cost about £20m.
The Premier League veteran implied the Lilywhites were too optimistic with their initial valuation and insisted Levy will splash the cash to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Brown told Football Insider: “When you’re talking £20million, it’s not a lot of money for a top-class player with international experience, it’s not a great deal.
“It’s the type of Spurs deal Daniel Levy knows well, he knows how to structure it, he has the patience, he sets many targets along the way.
“I think you’ve got to look at Hojbjerg, would he want to go to Spurs? I possibly think he would and that’s where the player can hold the cards when you’ve only got one year left.
“I would expect Spurs to pay a little bit more if he’s really their main target.”
It is hard to argue with Brown here, as Hojbjerg is a talented midfielder who fits the type of player Mourinho is looking for.
He has been on the club’s radar for a number of months, after putting in a string of impressive performances for the Saints in recent years.
Having moved to St Mary’s Stadium from Bayern Munich for £13.7m in 2016, the 24-year-old has made 28 appearances for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this season, creating 1 assist, making 2.4 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions, and completing 1.7 clearances on average (via WhoScored).
The Danish international can also play in the defensive midfield position, which is an area where Spurs lack options, and his leadership qualities would surely be an added bonus.
It is worth remembering Levy bided his time before signing Luka Modric after a year of stagnant negotiations, and the Croatian remains one of the best signings he has made to this day.
Moreover, Hojbjerg has admitted that his dream is to win the Premier League and win the Champions League, which matches Mourinho’s personal ambitions.
As things stands, it is unlikely the South Coast side will be able to offer him European football anytime soon, whereas Tottenham famously reached the Champions League final last season, which will no doubt appeal to the Dane.
Furthermore, Chinese chairman Gao Jisheng is desperate to sell his majority stake in the club, which has thrown the Saints into economic turmoil. Therefore, Southampton may look to cover the costs by selling their most valuable players in the summer.
His contract is set to expire next year and a move for Hojbjerg may be beneficial for all parties involved.
Tottenham fans, do you believe the board should sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us know what you think down below!
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