According to the Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel, Tottenham sees Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz as a potential Pierre Hojbjerg replacement.
There are a few things to clarify right off the bat. Hojbjerg’s potential departure, according to various sources, becomes more likely, but obtaining a like-for-like replacement is illogical.
The Dane wants Champions League football. Equally, his skill set isn’t perfect for Ange’s 4-3-3 system. He’s not quite the No. 6 Ange needs, nor does he fit into the more attacking No. 8 role.
🚨 #THFC have identified Douglas Luiz as a target to replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. @SamiMokbel81_DM 🥇 pic.twitter.com/lGHT8m9FjY
— Spurs Xtra (@Spurs_Xtra) July 20, 2023
Which is one of the main reasons Hojbjerg could move on, most likely to Atletico Madrid.
Luiz would probably cost about the same as the proceeds from selling Hojbjerg, about £30 million (give or take). However, Luiz, under contract at Aston Villa until 2026, is of a similar archetype to Spurs’ General Ho.
While a rough-and-tumble presence, does Luiz possess the skill set to advance the ball accurately and bravely in the No. 6 role? That’s up for debate. He possesses some tidy skills, but whether the 25-year-old Brazilian is an upgrade is another conversation.
It feels like much of the same for me, which is why the rumour will probably fade into the star-filled Aussie night.
But it’s something to keep an eye on, even if the likelihood of it coming to fruition is about the same as Harry Kane signing a contract extension this summer.