Could Hojbjerg be the final piece of Tottenham's midfield puzzle?

"I would like my club to be what I know what we will be, sensible, balanced and not going to spend rivers of money," Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday as Premier League sides return to training ahead of Project Restart. All European football, save for the Belarusian Premier League and the Bundesliga, is currently paused due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but slowly, leagues are set to return.

The Premier League is no exception as Liverpool chase the title, a number of teams seek to avoid relegation and the race for a top-four finish hots up. Spurs are among those hoping to land a Champions League spot, but it'll take a monumental effort to do so. The north London side's form hasn't been up to scratch in recent outings having won just three of their last 10 league matches and it leaves them with a mountain to climb in the final weeks of the campaign. 

Every team is likely to be working with a limited budget this summer and Spurs are no different. A host of impending free agents have been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, including Willian and Ryan Fraser of Celsea and Bournemouth, respectively, but among those; reports of a move for Pierre Emile Hojbjerg refuse to die down. 

The Danish midfielder is a key man for Southampton and Spurs were linked with a move for Hojbjerg in January, only for the south coast side to rubbish reports that their midfield dynamo would depart St. Mary's at the turn of the year. Their stance, though, may soften this summer. 

Hojbjerg is out of contract next year and has shown no signs that he is prepared to extend his stay on the south coast, much to the disappointment of Saints fans. After a period of uncertainty for Saints, where it looked as though a move away would be best for the player, Ralph Hasenhüttl all but brought Hojbjerg in from the cold and made him captain, with the former Bayern man relishing the responsibility. 

Alongside James Ward-Prowse, the pair have formed a tough-to-beat midfield partnership with Hojbjerg one of the more difficult midfielders to get the better of. Indeed, he has won possession in the midfield third more times (157) than any other Premier League player this season with Hojbjerg ideal in Hasenhüttl's high pressing approach that has won a number of admirers. 

This blossoming relationship could be cut short this summer, though, with Spurs eager to bring Hojbjerg to London and it's easy to see why. Midfield is a problem position for Mourinho, particularly in the wake of Eric Dier's decision to focus his efforts on developing as a centre-back. 

He has a number of options, but none offer the same protection to his defence in the way a peak Dier used to, or in the same vein as a fully fit Victor Wanyama in his debut campaign following his own arrival from Saints. The links with Hojbjerg, then, are logical. He'd fill a void in the middle of the park for a Spurs side that has developed eight statistically calculated WhoScored weaknesses, all of which are defensive focused. 

Mourinho has used Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks as the deepest lying midfielder following his November appointment, yet the trio have struggled with the necessary duties that comes with shielding the defence, a role that Hojbjerg evidently thrives in. What's more, a player of the Dane's calibre would ease the defensive burden on summer arrivals Ndombele and Lo Celso if Mourinho is to move to a 4-3-3 setup, which has been mooted. 

Given the suitability of those around him, it's feasible to suggest that Hojbjerg can be seen as the final piece of this midfield puzzle at Spurs. While his distribution has been found wanting this season - Hojbjerg has garnered a pass success rate of 77.2% from 57.7 passes per game - it's the work off the ball that has clearly caught Mourinho's eye, with the player yielding returns of 2.4 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League this season. 

What's more the issue on the pitch for Spurs has routinely been the lack of leadership in the middle of the park, but given Hojbjerg's authority, Mourinho would have the commanding figure in midfield he so desperately craves. In terms of a system, too, Hojbjerg would offer Mourinho greater tactical fliexibility. The Spurs boss has used a 4-4-2 setup this season, particularly to counter the absence of Harry Kane, but those in his squad are unfamiliar with the demands that come in playing in such a way. 

Given his experience in a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-2-2 formation for Saints this season, Hojbjerg is well versed in the needs of playing such a system, which can only be a good thing for Mourinho. Spurs have only used a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-2-2 four times across the league and Champions League this season, but Hojbjerg's arrival would grant Mourinho the opportunity to use such a system with greater confidence down the line. 

Spurs' interest in January may have taken many by surprise, and while a move earlier this year was off the cards from the get go, Saints could have no choice but to sell Hojbjerg this summer with their Premier League counterparts fronting the queue. It's not a huge shock given Hojbjerg's influence in the middle of the park and he could be the ideal midfield capture when the transfer market does eventually open, and with his deal running out sooner rather than later; he is a target that means Spurs wouldn't have to "spend rivers of money" to acquire his services this summer.