Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[SpartanSpur]

Sounds about what we paid for him so still would accept. He's late 20s now and that type of player will typically really decline with age.

We paid £15m and KWP from what I can remember, so likely a £30m deal. Granted it would have been amortised by now.

 

[mil1lion]

We paid £15m and KWP from what I can remember, so likely a £30m deal. Granted it would have been amortised by now.

They were separate deals

 

[mark87]

We paid £15m and KWP from what I can remember, so likely a £30m deal. Granted it would have been amortised by now.

No we got around 12m for KWP

 

[Albertbarich]

I wonder if he came up in the Kane negotiations. Bayern are still looking for a defensive midfielder.

 

[spursfan77]

I wonder if he came up in the Kane negotiations. Bayern are still looking for a defensive midfielder.

Hojbjerg isn’t really one of those though.

Ath Madrid really don’t seem to want to pay our price. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this done with a loan fee now and an obligation next summer to help them out financially if we want the deal to get done. Seems the way nowadays.

 

[TheChosenOne]

I wonder if he came up in the Kane negotiations. Bayern are still looking for a defensive midfielder.

He played there 2012/15

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Sounds about what we paid for him so still would accept. He's late 20s now and that type of player will typically really decline with age.

We signed him after he had made it clear that he had no intention of signing a new contract and had handed in a transfer request. We therefore signed him for less than his market value.
Currently, he has two years left on his contract (so no reason to sell below market value) and is more proven than when we signed him (so his market value has increased).
According to Transfermarkt, his market value has increased by 125% since we signed him (€20m up to €45m). His age will be factored into this valuation.

£30m (i.e. roughly double what Atletico has offered) feels like a a fair price to me, on the basis that he wants to leave / isn't a perfect fit for our new system, but would otherwise be worth closer to £40m for us. For context, CMs who wouldn't get into our starting lineup (this season or last) have gone for more than that in recent windows.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

There’s this dated belief that every backup has to play that particular role in exactly the same manner as the first choice. Sarr could be backup 6 without playing exactly the same way as Bissouma. A good manager, as I believe Ange is would be able to train his midfield trio into performing in different ways. If Bentancur is relatively close to fitness I think that 6 is easily enough and we should focus on more important positions i.e another CB and forward player.

Yet a lot of people who hold that belief also want options off the bench that can impact the game in a different way

I think Hojbjerg could make a decent contribution for us this season, if no-one coughs up our valuation. Although he's not a perfect fit for our new system, he's a decent player who could provide cover in two of the CM positions. He was on the bench last weekend, despite actively seeking a move, which suggests Ange sees something in him (Ange seems like the sort of manager who'd avoid utilising players who don't want to be here). As you have implied, he doesn't need to be exactly the same as our other CM options. Any playing time for him would be at the expense of a younger player with a potentially higher ceiling though (he's our oldest CM, despite being in his prime years), so I'd have no qualms about him leaving without being replaced.

 

[sidford]

Rumours are atletico are close to Agreeing a deal to loan out Felix to Barca, that should give them more wiggle room for this one

 

[mil1lion]

We signed him after he had made it clear that he had no intention of signing a new contract and had handed in a transfer request. We therefore signed him for less than his market value.
Currently, he has two years left on his contract (so no reason to sell below market value) and is more proven than when we signed him (so his market value has increased).
According to Transfermarkt, his market value has increased by 125% since we signed him (€20m up to €45m). His age will be factored into this valuation.

£30m (i.e. roughly double what Atletico has offered) feels like a a fair price to me, on the basis that he wants to leave / isn't a perfect fit for our new system, but would otherwise be worth closer to £40m for us. For context, CMs who wouldn't get into our starting lineup (this season or last) have gone for more than that in recent windows.

It's a really tricky market to judge. My main concern is the numbers we have and the lack of interest for our other players. We really need to trim the squad to allow more incomings and we only have 2 weeks. Generally I would agree 30m plus to another PL club but I would be ok with 20m to a non rival club. Its just going to be very difficult to shift players outside this league other than Saudi if they come calling. Its just a different value for teams inside the Premier League and outside it. We have to value players accordingly and determine if keeping them is preventing incoming players who fit the manager. It's not easy.

 

[kd2000]

It's a really tricky market to judge. My main concern is the numbers we have and the lack of interest for our other players. We really need to trim the squad to allow more incomings and we only have 2 weeks. Generally I would agree 30m plus to another PL club but I would be ok with 20m to a non rival club. Its just going to be very difficult to shift players outside this league other than Saudi if they come calling. Its just a different value for teams inside the Premier League and outside it. We have to value players accordingly and determine if keeping them is preventing incoming players who fit the manager. It's not easy.

As much as I agree, 20mil to a team outside of england makes sense, the market is determined by what people are paying.
Levy, as a business man will be looking at other transfers and seeing lesser experienced players, who in most circumstances would be valued no where near as high as PEH, being snapped up for 30mil by the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle. Lets face it, the rumoured fee Newcastle are willing to pay for the Chelski teenage left back is just making things worse.
(the cynic in me wonders if Newcastles owners being who they are, and Rumours of Chelsea having 'ties' in Qatar has something to do with how high the fee is)

 

[mil1lion]

As much as I agree, 20mil to a team outside of england makes sense, the market is determined by what people are paying.
Levy, as a business man will be looking at other transfers and seeing lesser experienced players, who in most circumstances would be valued no where near as high as PEH, being snapped up for 30mil by the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle. Lets face it, the rumoured fee Newcastle are willing to pay for the Chelski teenage left back is just making things worse.
(the cynic in me wonders if Newcastles owners being who they are, and Rumours of Chelsea having 'ties' in Qatar has something to do with how high the fee is)

It's always going to come down to each club and their circumstances. There's a lot of these deals for players who are key players for clubs who don't have big spending power so they demand much more. It's a bit different with us. Hojbjerg is not a key player for this manager, we have a need to trim the squad and we have plenty of money. Also not many of these inflated costs are outside the Premier League or Saudi. It seems if clubs from those leagues go for a player the cost is much higher. Like I say it makes it really difficult to judge. There doesn't seem to be a lot being spent in La Liga and I really don't see where we sell these players. I don't think any club in England who would want Hojbjerg are going to be able to meet his wages. That just leaves the bigger clubs in Europe and they're skint. Unless Saudi come for him and then it's a question of whether he would be interested.

 

[kd2000]

It's always going to come down to each club and their circumstances. There's a lot of these deals for players who are key players for clubs who don't have big spending power so they demand much more. It's a bit different with us. Hojbjerg is not a key player for this manager, we have a need to trim the squad and we have plenty of money. Also not many of these inflated costs are outside the Premier League or Saudi. It seems if clubs from those leagues go for a player the cost is much higher. Like I say it makes it really difficult to judge. There doesn't seem to be a lot being spent in La Liga and I really don't see where we sell these players. I don't think any club in England who would want Hojbjerg are going to be able to meet his wages. That just leaves the bigger clubs in Europe and they're skint. Unless Saudi come for him and then it's a question of whether he would be interested.

I couldnt agree more. I just think Levy, as a business man, not a football man is looking for maximum revenue and minimal loss in every deal.
Now, no matter how much we complain and berate Levy for wanting maximum revenue, if it meant an extra player, even say a 20mil player becuase he was able to recoup and further 20mil through haggling on fees, we would be all for that as a fan base.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

It's a really tricky market to judge. My main concern is the numbers we have and the lack of interest for our other players. We really need to trim the squad to allow more incomings and we only have 2 weeks. Generally I would agree 30m plus to another PL club but I would be ok with 20m to a non rival club.

Well not even 20m (€ or £) has been offered so far and your previous post suggested that we should accept this sub-20m offer from Atletico.

Its just going to be very difficult to shift players outside this league other than Saudi if they come calling. Its just a different value for teams inside the Premier League and outside it. We have to value players accordingly and determine if keeping them is preventing incoming players who fit the manager. It's not easy.

Atletico wouldn't sell someone of Hojbjerg's calibre to us for the £16m that they've reportedly offered. They just got £40-45m from Wolves for a CF who scores less than Hojbjerg (a CM) and has half the market value of Hojbjerg (according to Transfermarkt & footballtransfers.com).

 

[Neon_Knight_]

We paid £15m and KWP from what I can remember, so likely a £30m deal. Granted it would have been amortised by now.

My understanding is that these were two separate deals, with us getting a fee for KWP rather than part-exchanging him. Depending what source you go by, we sold KWP £10-13m and paid £12-16m for Hojbjerg. Although KWP had an initial purple patch at Southampton, it seemed very much that we got a good deal on both transactions.

 

[StanSpur]

Selling PEH does concern me, I dont see depth in our midfield. Numbers yes but not the right quality. If Bissouma gets injured who plays the 6? I know its not ideal for PEH but he would be better at breaking up the opposition than any of our other midfielders in my opinion and for c£20m there is no quality coming in to replace him at that price.

 

[mil1lion]

Well not even 20m (€ or £) has been offered so far and your previous post suggested that we should accept this sub-20m offer from Atletico.


Atletico wouldn't sell someone of Hojbjerg's calibre to us for the £16m that they've reportedly offered. They just got £40-45m from Wolves for a CF who scores less than Hojbjerg (a CM) and has half the market value of Hojbjerg (according to Transfermarkt & footballtransfers.com).

There's a difference between clubs in the Premier League as I said previously. So typically clubs are asking more from EPL teams for their players. It obscures the market a lot. Also these sites for market value are worthless. Player value is determined by the club and their situation. Hojbjerg has 2 years left, isn't in our plans and we badly need to shift players. We're over the non homegrown limit and if we cut our losses on Hojbjerg and it helps free a space for a player we actually need I think it makes sense. Like we have Lo Celso back now and with Maddison signed we have 7 players to cover the midfield 3 in a non European season. If getting Hojbjerg off the books an help us bring another CB in its worth it imo. Hopefully they do come back with a better offer but I would take an improved one, ideally around 20m pounds at least. I did say I probably take their initial offer but obviously it's easier to say now with hindsight. I just think we need to be a bit more aggressive with sales.

 

[Albertbarich]

Selling PEH does concern me, I dont see depth in our midfield. Numbers yes but not the right quality. If Bissouma gets injured who plays the 6? I know its not ideal for PEH but he would be better at breaking up the opposition than any of our other midfielders in my opinion and for c£20m there is no quality coming in to replace him at that price.

I don't see anyone who can replace Biss right now even with Holjberg here as Bissouma Is so much better on the ball and taking it in to protect it.

In terms of numbers/quality I think we have to remember that we have a certain Mr Bentancour back whoif last season is anything to go by will be our best midfielder.

I don't think PEH is a natural fit for either the 6 or an 8 role here.

 

[mil1lion]

Selling PEH does concern me, I dont see depth in our midfield. Numbers yes but not the right quality. If Bissouma gets injured who plays the 6? I know its not ideal for PEH but he would be better at breaking up the opposition than any of our other midfielders in my opinion and for c£20m there is no quality coming in to replace him at that price.

Skipp is better as a 6 than Hojbjerg imo. Although when Bentancur returns he is better than both there. 6 players (Bissouma, Bentancur, Maddison, Lo Celso, Sarr, Skipp) is plenty to cover midfield.

 

[only1waddle]

I don't see anyone who can replace Biss right now even with Holjberg here as Bissouma Is so much better on the ball and taking it in to protect it.

In terms of numbers/quality I think we have to remember that we have a certain Mr Bentancour back whoif last season is anything to go by will be our best midfielder.

I don't think PEH is a natural fit for either the 6 or an 8 role here.

There's absolutely no guarantee of that after such a bad injury.