According to the Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel, Tottenham sees Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz as a potential Pierre Hojbjerg replacement.
There are a few things to clarify right off the bat. Hojbjerg’s potential departure, according to various sources, becomes more likely, but obtaining a like-for-like replacement is illogical.
The Dane wants Champions League football. Equally, his skill set isn’t perfect for Ange’s 4-3-3 system. He’s not quite the No. 6 Ange needs, nor does he fit into the more attacking No. 8 role.
Which is one of the main reasons Hojbjerg could move on, most likely to Atletico Madrid.
Luiz would probably cost about the same as the proceeds from selling Hojbjerg, about £30 million (give or take). However, Luiz, under contract at Aston Villa until 2026, is of a similar archetype to Spurs’ General Ho.
While a rough-and-tumble presence, does Luiz possess the skill set to advance the ball accurately and bravely in the No. 6 role? That’s up for debate. He possesses some tidy skills, but whether the 25-year-old Brazilian is an upgrade is another conversation.
It feels like much of the same for me, which is why the rumour will probably fade into the star-filled Aussie night.
But it’s something to keep an eye on, even if the likelihood of it coming to fruition is about the same as Harry Kane signing a contract extension this summer.
