Marseille nearing completion of Hojbjerg sign deal

Olympique de Marseille is close to securing the transfer of Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The French club has entered advanced negotiations to bring the 28-year-old Dane to Ligue 1, a deal likely to conclude in the coming days. This is prepared by SSP.

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Tottenham’s Hojbjerg has experienced limited playing time, sparking uncertainty about his future at the club. Voicing their interest, Marseille aims to sign Hojbjerg on a loan with a mandatory purchase option for around €15 million (£17 million). Should the transfer go through, Hojbjerg may pen a four-year contract, thus reigniting his career in the French league, after falling out of favor in North London under head coach Ange Postecoglou.

The interest and subsequent advanced dialogue from Marseille have been significantly backed by their new manager Roberto De Zerbi. Having previous Premier League managerial experience with Brighton & Hove Albion, De Zerbi is well-acquainted with Hojbjerg’s talents. Known for his robust work ethic and defensive skills, Hojbjerg has been a fixture at Spurs since his £15m transfer from Southampton in 2020.

With competition in Tottenham's midfield heating up—thanks to players like Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall—Hojbjerg's need to move becomes more apparent as Spurs beef up their sector further.

A significant move for Marseille, this acquisition continues their active transfer period, adding to signings such as forward Mason Greenwood from Manchester United and Ismael Kone from Watford.

Letting Hojbjerg go doesn't come without its concerns for Tottenham. Losing the Dane could expose a critical deficiency in Tottenham’s defensive midfield. Despite having options like Bissouma, the team lacks a dedicated defensive midfielder necessary for breaking up plays and stabilizing the defense—key needs identified by Postecoglou for the upcoming season.

As discussions edge towards finalization, all eyes will be on whether Spurs fortify their defensive midfield to avoid vulnerability in their core ideal for attacking exploits. Without someone to win tackles and safeguard the back four, Tottenham's vulnerability would persist.