Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Rob Guest

Jose Mourinho's most likely Tottenham line up after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg summer transfer

Jose Mourinho could soon be about to complete his first bit of summer transfer business at Tottenham with the addition of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The Southampton midfielder has been heavily tipped to move to north London ahead of the new season and it appears that the move will come to fruition.

Everton had also been in the race to sign the Danish international, although a move to Goodison Park always seemed unlikely with the 25-year-old setting his heart on a move to Spurs.

Stamping his mark on his Tottenham squad back in January with Steven Bergwijn and Gedson Fernandes arriving at the club, Mourinho will be hoping Hojbjerg is the first of a few new summer additions as the Lilywhites bid to climb the league table once again.

Alasdair Gold's Spurs season debrief and the transfer window

The departures of Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama over the past 18 months, as well as Eric Dier's decision to play at centre-back, has left the team rather short in terms of holding midfielders.

However, Hojbjerg is seen as the man who can help solve that issue due to the role he has played at Southampton over the past four years.

But how will Spurs line up once the ex-Bayern Munich man has signed on the dotted line? football.london takes a look.

Mourinho kept faith with the same team towards the end of the campaign as his side finished strongly to secure Europa League football.

In that period Giovani Lo Celso often changed roles as Spurs lined up in either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1.

That will no doubt be the case once again next season with the Argentine supporting Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane in attack.

Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn both made their case during the final few fixtures, especially at Newcastle, for a spot in the starting XI, although it is Lucas who is leading the race at present providing he can maintain his good form.

It is then a question of who starts out of Harry Winks or Moussa Sissoko in midfield with Hojbjerg.

With both favourites of the head coach after featuring regularly following his November arrival, it may be the latter who gets the nod due to his energetic displays and his ability to move about the pitch.

Defence picks itself at present with Dier looking a certainty to start at centre-back after his return to the starting XI at Crystal Palace in place of Davinson Sanchez following the completion of his four-match suspension.

Dier will be partnered by Toby Alderweireld at centre-back, with Serge Aurier and Ben Davies keeping their places at full-back.

Hugo Lloris, as ever, remains in goal in Mourinho's strongest XI.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.