Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly not let Juventus-linked Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg leave in the January transfer window without signing a replacement.
The Denmark international was one of the first names on the teamsheet under Antonio Conte, initially forming a useful midfield partnership with Rodrigo Bentancur.
However, following Spurs' failure to qualify for European football for the 2023-24 season, Ange Postecoglou revamped the Lilywhites' midfield, promoting Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma to regular starting roles.
Sarr and Bissouma were only bit-part performers under Conte, but the duo have been given a new lease of life since Postecoglou's appointment and have been integral in Spurs' unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
As a result, Hojbjerg has slipped down the pecking order and has made just one competitive start this term, taking to the field from the first whistle in an EFL Cup second-round loss to Fulham.
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The Denmark international has been used off the bench in seven Premier League matches, although he will come into the first XI against Fulham on Monday in place of the suspended Bissouma.
Nevertheless, Hojbjerg's lack of minutes had unsurprisingly led to question marks over his future, although the 28-year-old recently insisted that he was "accepting" his situation in North London.
Hojbjerg is still under contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 2025, but Juventus are believed to be weighing up an approach for the ex-Southampton lynchpin, who could supposedly be available for around £26m.
However, The Mirror affirms that Spurs will not allow the Dane to leave without first scoping out a replacement, despite opening the door to Hojbjerg's departure over the summer.
Hojbjerg could still have a crucial role to play for Tottenham over the winter, as Mali's Bissouma and Senegal's Sarr are both due to represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Assuming that Bentancur does not suffer any severe setbacks in the final stages of his recovery from a knee injury, the Uruguayan and Hojbjerg would therefore represent two of three fit midfield options for Tottenham during the AFCON alongside Oliver Skipp.
As such, Spurs will not consider letting the Denmark international depart without bringing in a successor, and they were strongly linked with a deal for Chelsea's Conor Gallagher over the summer, but the Englishman has blossomed into a crucial player for Mauricio Pochettino this season.
Tottenham paid approximately £14.5m to poach Hojbjerg from Southampton in 2020, and the ex-Bayern Munich youngster now boasts 10 goals and 16 assists in 153 games for the club.
Hojbjerg is on Juventus' radar as the Bianconeri prepare for life without Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli, who are serving lengthy suspensions for doping and illegal gambling respectively.
The Italian giants are also rumoured to be weighing up a deal for Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips, who like Hojbjerg is also yet to start a Premier League match in the 2023-24 season.
Ben Knapton
