Southampton: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg agrees personal terms with Everton

Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg finally appears to be moving closer towards a transfer away from the club.

According to multiple sources including the Daily Echo and the Telegraph, the 24-year-old has agreed personal terms with Everton after Saints accepted a £25m bid for him earlier today.

The Echo’s Dan Sheldon also provides additional information by saying that Hojbjerg has already had a tour of the Toffees’ training ground.

All sources close to the club are stating that Spurs may return to match Everton’s offer if they feel that the £25m fee is justified – both have been in a two-way tussle to secure Hojbjerg’s signature.

A previous Spurs offer involved Kyle Walker-Peters going the other way to St Mary’s on a permanent deal but it is said that Saints – although keen to bring the full-back in – want to keep the two deals separate.

Given the financial implications of the Coronavirus pandemic, it can be seen as good business by Saints to get a fee of at least £25m for a player who clearly wants to leave and has just one year remaining on his contract.

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They seem to have the upper hand in negotiations here and could even get more money if Spurs are desperate to get one of their main targets this summer.

Crucially, a large fee like this will enable Ralph Hasenhuttl to pursue the players that he wants before the start of the 2020/21 season.

Saints are reportedly close to a deal to sign Real Valladolid centre-back Mohammed Salisu – a 21-year-old showing great promise and very much in the profile of players that Hasenhuttl wants to work with.

Links have also been made to Walker-Peters and Olivier Ntcham of Celtic who would both fill positions in the Saints team with significant quality.

Other departures may need to happen to enable full spending of funds by the club but things certainly look to be heading in the right direction to aid a return to the top-half of the Premier League by next May.