Ange must now axe Spurs £100k/week warrior who is earning more than Porro & Richarlion
Daniel Levy realized last summer that he had to pick the correct manager at Tottenham Hotspur after failing under Antonio Conte, who was fired in March of last year.
After Celtic finished eighth in the Premier League, it became clear that European competition was out of the question. Although prominent managers like Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann were mentioned, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou—who had never managed in one of Europe’s “big five leagues”—was given the job of taking the team forward.
Nevertheless, the 58-year-old has meticulously developed his coaching abilities, and Spurs’ incredible start to the 2023–24 campaign—winning eight and drawing two of their first eight Premier League games—reflects this. However, injuries and suspensions impeded the team’s progress during November and December.
Even though he has shed some of the deadwood and brought in a number of promising young players, Tottenham still has to put in more effort before it can maintain its position at the top of both the Premier League and Europe.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will undoubtedly be among the first players pushed toward the departure door as more additions and bench players are anticipated to be made this summer.
Why Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was signed by Spurs
Following Mauricio Pochettino’s dismissal in November 2019, it was revealed that Jose Mourinho, the former manager of Chelsea and Manchester United who was known for his natural winning attitude, will take over at Tottenham.
Although everyone is aware that things didn’t go as planned, he was able to arrange for Hojbjerg to move for Southampton for £15 million in the summer of 2020, giving the Denmark international a great deal after the player was forced to leave the south coast.
Hojbjerg was the ideal general for Mourinho’s engine room because of his strong defensive instincts and clean ball handling.
On the other hand, Hojbjerg is a little out of place in Postecoglou’s daring and fluid setup, but his fundamentals are still evident as he ranks in the top 6% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for passes attempted, the top 10% for progressive passes, and the top 13% for clearances per ninety, according to FBref.
For Tottenham, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg seems to be in despair.
After making 172 appearances for the Lilywhites, the 28-year-old is now stuck on the sidelines and only a few months away from playing in his contract’s last year.
He’s making a cool cash, so this summer he has to go
The Spurs manager, Levy, does not economize when it comes to paying his employees, but he also does not overpay; the club’s highest earner, Heung-min Son, has a salary of less than £200k per week.
| Tottenham Hotspur: Highest Earners | |
|---|---|
| Player | Salary |
| Heung-min Son | £190k-p/w |
| James Maddison | £170k-p/w |
| Timo Werner (on loan) | £165k-p/w |
| Cristian Romero | £165k-p/w |
| Dejan Kulusevski | £110k-p/w |
| Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | £100k-p/w |
| Richarlison | £90k-p/w |
| Pedro Porro | £85k-p/w |
| Radu Dragusin | £85k-p/w |
| Ben Davies | £80k-p/w |
| Source: Capology | |
Despite making half as much, Hojbjerg is the team’s fifth-highest earner (not including Timo Werner, who signed a loan from RB Leipzig in January).
At six feet one, the 6-foot-1 star earns a comfortable £100k a week, which is actually more than both Richarlison (£90k) and Pedro Porro (£85k), two of Tottenham’s most important players since Postecoglou took over the bench.
For instance, Richarlison, a striker from Brazil, signed a lucrative £60 million contract with the Premier League’s Everton in 2022 after struggling the previous season. However, he has since had a great purple patch, scoring nine goals in his last 10 games.
Forward Richarlison of Tottenham.
On the other hand, Porro has undoubtedly been the greatest full-back in the Premier League so far this year, captivating everyone with his all-around skill down the right.
According to Sofascore, the 24-year-old, who spent the second half of the 2022–2023 season on loan at Sporting Lisbon before joining for a reported £39 million in the summer, has contributed seven assists from 23 league games. He averages 1.7 key passes, 2.9 tackles, 5.7 ball recoveries, and 2.5 clearances per game, winning 54% of his duels and 59% of his dribbles.
Hojbjerg has no future at Tottenham and has been continuously linked to leaving the squad during the season. In January, the struggling French team Lyon allegedly made an official offer, which Hojbjerg reportedly rejected.
Why Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is being sold by Spurs
Postecoglou’s main motivation for wanting to sell Hojbjerg is that the current system does not fully use his finest attributes.
Previously referred to be a “warrior” by former Tottenham player Alan Hutton, Hojbjerg will succeed somewhere, but if he stays with the team for the 2024–2025 season, it will only hurt his prospects of rising to the top once again.
In the Premier League this season, Postecoglou has only played Hojbjerg from the start six times. According to Sofascore, he has completed 89% of his passes, but he has only averaged 0.2 critical passes, one tackle, 3.6 ball recoveries, and 2.1 successful duels per game.
It’s evident from comparing it to the youthful Pape Matar Sarr, for instance, who has likewise completed 89% of his passes but averages 4.8 ball recoveries and 0.8 crucial passes per game, that the Dane is missing in some movement and agility.
Since Postecoglou’s arrival, the team has already said farewell to players like Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, and Tanguy Ndombele, and Hojbjerg will undoubtedly be taking a leave of absence over the off-season.
It’s evident that Postecoglou’s style of play calls for a certain kind of player, and even if Hojbjerg has had plenty of success at Tottenham and in the Premier League, he has to start a new chapter at the end of the season.
He has to do this for himself, to find a team that will value his hardworking nature, and to relieve Spurs of one of their largest payroll costs. This will allow for more funding to support the blossoming rebirth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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