Tottenham Hotspur have earmarked Chelsea's Conor Gallagher as an ideal replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, according to a report.
Hojbjerg has been a stalwart of the Spurs midfield since leaving Southampton in 2020, starting 35 Premier League games last term and banking four goals and five assists.
However, the Denmark international was sometimes criticised for his performances, and a move away from North London this summer is thought to be a serious possibility.
Atletico Madrid are believed to be in talks with Hojbjerg over a move to the Spanish capital, while clubs in Germany are also keeping a close eye on the situation.
Hojbjerg's contract in North London runs until 2025, and the Lilywhites are supposedly open to selling the 27-year-old for the right price this summer, even with Rodrigo Bentancur yet to fully recover from his ACL injury.
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According to The Telegraph, Spurs have identified Chelsea's Gallagher as a possible successor to Hojbjerg, as the Englishman could become the next victim of the Blues' summer cull.
After shining on loan for Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 season, Gallagher returned to Stamford Bridge last term with the aim of laying down a marker in the first team, and he totalled three goals and one assist from 45 matches.
The 23-year-old started 18 Premier League matches for the Blues, but he is also only under contract for another two years and is not immune to Chelsea's mass clearout under Mauricio Pochettino.
However, the report adds that a fee of £50m could be required to prise Gallagher away from Stamford Bridge, reflecting the midfielder's age and home-grown status.
Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham United have previously been tipped to move for Gallagher, who has also been loaned out to Charlton Athletic, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion since joining Chelsea in 2008.
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Nevertheless, Pochettino is said to be an admirer of the 23-year-old, who could enjoy more starts in the Chelsea midfield next term following the exits of Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
However, Chelsea could instead dip into their cash reserves to find Enzo Fernandez a regular midfield partner amid links with Moises Caicedo and Gabri Veiga, leaving the door open for Gallagher to potentially complete a move across London.
Following the arrival of Ange Postecoglou, Spurs are expected to shift to a 4-3-3 setup for the 2023-24 season, with one midfield spot being occupied by new signing James Maddison.
Despite Bentancur's absence and Hojbjerg's uncertain future, Postecoglou also has Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and Oliver Skipp vying for minutes, while Tanguy Ndombele is now back from his loan spell at Napoli.
Spurs' record signing has flattered to deceive since joining in 2019, but Postecoglou has hinted that the door is open for Ndombele to revive his Tottenham career.
Ben Knapton
