Tottenham Hotspur confirmed their first summer signing in the shape of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The Danish midfielder was an important signing for Jose Mourinho, with the Portuguese often putting an emphasis on the role of defensive midfielder in his teams, especially from a tactical perspective.
“He already acts like a coach when he is on the field,” Mourinho said of Xabi Alonso.
Elsewhere, he commended Esteban Cambiasso by saying, “He thinks quickly and is tactical, he knows everything about football. He encourages teammates to press and helps the defenders in the centre... he reminds of Fernando Redondo.”
It’s not just the influence on the team that is being measured with Hojbjerg’s arrival, but also the individuals. Harry Winks is considered an important part of the club’s future after rising through the academy, but the decision to sign any central midfielder is always like to force questions about his future.
The 24-year-old split last season between defensive midfield and central midfield, but it is important he secures a long-term future in one position. As his teammate Eric Dier has learned to his cost, a player’s versatility can sometimes be an inhibitor to progression as they become a back-up in several roles rather than a specialist in one.
The power of the decision rests with Mourinho. Towards the back end of the season, the Portuguese operated between two differing formations, 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3. The latter is not a traditional 4-3-3 in the sense the midfield three is inverted, with two defensive midfielders and one more advanced central midfielder.
This is where Winks comes in. The midfielder has shown a strong ability to play as a metronome from a deeper position -- a role that now will likely be filled by Hojbjerg. Given Winks has just two goals and two assists in 143 games for Spurs it’s hard to believe he could suddenly reinvent himself as a more advanced midfielder in the final third. What could be possible is a role as a box-to-box midfielder alongside Hojbjerg or as a back-up option in defensive midfield.
The presence of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele only serves to complicate matters, with both more high-profile players. Daniel Levy did not sanction those deals for either man to sit on the bench.
Spurs commitments, both at home and in Europe, will necessitate some degree of squad rotation, but it’s hard to believe Winks will settle for that. He has aspirations of playing for England, and that will be a nigh impossible achievement if he is spending large portions of the season on the bench.
The uncertainty surrounding Ndombele’s future may ease the stress attached to that decision, but Mourinho will need to be swift with his choice. His predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, was at times criticised for how he handled some of Spurs young players, and the fact Hojbjerg’s arrival coincided with Kyle Walker-Peters’ departure was a subtle reminder of how frustrating the right-back’s Spurs career was.
