Journalist predicts Conte would be ‘upset’ if Spurs sold £30m-valued man

Daily Star journalist Paul Brown has claimed Antonio Conte would be ‘upset’ if Tottenham elected to sell Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer. 

Hojbjerg has been a fixture in the Spurs line-up since arriving at the club in the summer of 2020 and a mainstay in the midfield under Conte. 

However, the Mirror recently reported the 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from North London with Newcastle thought to have placed him on their transfer shortlist. 

The report noted that a £30 million bid is being readied by the Magpies, who are keen to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad under their new ownership heading into the new campaign. 

But Brown says he would be surprised if Conte sanctioned an exit for Hojbjerg and feels the 52-year-old Italian would be unhappy if the Denmark international was to depart. 

He told GiveMeSport: “I’m pretty sure that Conte wouldn’t want him to go, so there’d be a bit of a fight on, I think, for Newcastle to get him.

“You have to wonder where Spurs are going in the transfer market and what exactly Conte wants them to do in midfield because I think in the same way that West Ham want a centre-back and a striker; I think those are the two positions that Spurs want as well.

“So, I’d be very surprised if Conte was to allow that to happen; I think he would be upset if Spurs did it.”

Hojbjerg has turned out on 44 occasions this season and is already expected to surpass 100 appearances for Tottenham by the end of the campaign (Transfermarkt). 

Spurs Web Opinion 

Conte seems to like Hojbjerg and trusts him to do a job in the Spurs midfield. But realistically, if Spurs do receive a good enough offer then they may be tempted into a sale. 

He has parts to his game that are useful to have when breaking up the play but there are other qualities that have been lacking somewhat this season, which can make him upgradable if the opportunity comes around. 

Related Topics