Tottenham: Conte 'would be upset' at £36m star's Hotspur Way exit

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte ‘would be upset’ if the club’s hierarchy sold midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, according to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.

The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from north London in recent weeks despite being a regular starter since Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in November.

According to The Mirror, Newcastle United are plotting a £30 million summer move for Hojbjerg as they prepare for their second transfer window under their new owners.

The Denmark international arrived at Spurs from Southampton in August 2020 and has gone on to register 14 goal contributions in 97 appearances across all competitions since.

Compatriot and one-time Derby County midfielder Morten Bisgaard previously described Hojbjerg as a ‘monster’ and the tough-tackling maestro has established himself as a key player in Tottenham’s engine room.

As per WhoScored, the Scandinavian has averaged 69.7 passes per league game throughout 2021/22, 2.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions, placing him in the top three compared to his teammates for each metric.

And it seems as though Hojbjerg’s impressive performances have caught the eye of the newly-rich Newcastle, who became the world’s richest club last year.

Hojbjerg has started 22 of Conte’s 24 Premier League games in the Tottenham hot seat, and Brown has revealed he would be ‘very surprised’ if the Italian tactician sanctioned his sale.

He told GiveMeSport: “I’m pretty sure that Conte wouldn’t want him to go, so there’d be a bit of a fight on, I think, for Newcastle to get him.

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You have to wonder where Spurs are going in the transfer market and what exactly Conte wants them