Ralph Hasenhuttl has admitted that he is yet to open discussions about a new contract with club captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, but the Southampton boss is confident that the midfielder will renew once talks take place.
Speaking to The Southern Daily Echo, the Austrian head coach confessed that contract discussions with players won’t take place until Southampton acquire 36 points in the Premier League, with the Saints currently on 31 as the league table shows, despite enduring a January window where there was some interest in Hojbjerg.
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported via The Daily Star in the transfer window that Everton were interested in the Danish international, with Southampton reportedly valuing their captain at £35m, with Sky Sports News also reporting that Tottenham were also keen on Hojbjerg in the summer. However, Hasenhuttl appears confident in the midfield renewing with the Saints.
Will Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sign a new deal with Southampton?Yes
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The former RB Leipzig boss said: “No news on this because there’s no speaking of any contracts before we have 36 points. It was a good decision to do this because the main thing is playing better and investing more. The rest will come. He enjoys playing in the team at the moment, he sees we’re in a good way and as a captain, he’s responsible also. An important message for him also is that he sees we’re going in a clear direction as a club which is important for him.”
With Hojbjerg being one of Hasenhuttl’s key players this season as stats from Transfermarkt show, the former Bayern Munich midfielder could be keen on remaining with the Saints for the foreseeable future, especially since Hasenhuttl was the man to hand the 24-year-old the armband at the start of the season, making the Dane one of the youngest captains in European football.
