Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s future murkier after latest performance

With Yves Bissouma out against Fulham after his red card at Luton Town, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou had to make a choice about the midfield. Would he turn to Giovani Lo Celso, yet to make his first start in a Spurs shirt this season, or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the marauding CDM who has been a staple for previous Spurs head coaches?

Fans tuned in on Monday night and saw the predictable choice: Hojbjerg would join James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr in the midfield.

Hojbjerg has divided the Tottenham faithful in recent years. Online discourse suggests one side believes he is not suited for Postecoglou’s high-pressing, quick-passing system. Others suggest he has been a victim of circumstance, never getting a rest during the Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santos, and Antonio Conte eras, causing a drop in form.

Last season, the Danish international showed he had a bit more goalscoring to his game, most notably in the second meeting with Marseille in the Champions League group stage. He fought and clawed every match, but his defensive game slipped in a midfield two without Rodrigo Bentancur in the back half of the 2022-23 season.

Monday against Fulham was a Hojbjerg redemption match.

He was superb; neat and tidy with the ball in the first half and not afraid to take chances if they fell to him. His lone shot of the evening was saved by Fulham’s keeper Bernd Leno, but it was his work off the ball that made the difference. Around the 54-minute mark, Hojbjerg intercepted a pass from Calvin Bassey, which he passed to Son Hueng-Min. Son would then slip in Maddison to put the game to bed at 2-0.

Many of the criticisms against the midfielder did not appear until late in the second half, as Postecoglou rotated heavily in preparation for the trip to Crystal Palace on October 27.

Still, he kept the ball away from Fulham’s attacking threats and was a workhorse in the middle of the park. He did his job and that’s all fans and Postecoglou can ask of the Dane.

Charlie Ecceleshare of The Athletic pointed out that Hojbjerg is still open to a move away from North London, should the right offer arrive and if the club can find a suitable replacement. However, with AFCON 2024 looming and the likelihood that both Bissouma and Sarr will be on international duty for their countries, it could be Hojbjerg’s chance to carve out his role in the team.

There is an argument for letting Hojbjerg go in January.

His contract will expire next summer, and Spurs haven’t signaled any intentions to sign him to a new deal. It would make sense to cash in now before his deal runs down to the wire.

Hojbjerg has admitted he would like to play more but has stayed professional and works hard in training, accepting his reduced role.

Postecoglou entrusts him to be the no-nonsense field marshall when Tottenham has been in control of the game. Sure, he is not the quickest passer or the most creative (especially compared to his contemporary, Bissouma), but he offers something the team needs: stability.

Tottenham will go into the January transfer window considering all options, even if that means letting Hojbjerg go. Atletico Madrid, Fulham, and even Manchester United expressed an interest in him, but Spurs’ evaluation (30 million pounds) is understood to be quite high. However, they may not even take selling Hojbjerg off the table if they can’t find a replacement. The possibilities are plentiful.

The future is still uncertain for Hojbjerg and Tottenham, but his performance against Fulham will earn him more credibility with fans and Postecoglou alike.