Manchester United are prepared to provide stiff competition to Juventus in the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in January, according to Corriere dello Sport.

Since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg joined Tottenham from Southampton, he has been a key player in the squad. His tough-tackling style of play has earned him a reputation as a defensive midfielder who is not afraid to put his body on the line.

However, this season, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr have solidified themselves as the undisputed midfield pair pushing the Denmark international down the pecking order at Tottenham. Hojbjerg has only made a few cameos this season with his only two starts coming against Fulham in the Carabao Cup and Premier League.

Corriere dello Sport further reports that Juventus have also expressed interest in Hojbjerg, and may be looking to sign him on loan. However, the report states that Tottenham Hotspur would prefer to complete a permanent deal for the player, who is valued at €30 million.

With Hojbjerg’s contract expiring in 2025, United may have a chance to sign him if they make a strong offer. However, they will need to be cautious of Juventus’ interest in the player as they’re currently in good form, and qualifying for European places might put the Italian giants in a better position to sign him.

Midfield options

Casemiro had recently recovered from an ankle injury, only to suffer a hamstring injury in a match against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup. This has left questions about his fitness and availability, especially as the Premier League enter a busy holiday period.

If Casemiro is not fully fit at the beginning of 2024, Erik Ten Hag may need to look to the transfer market for reinforcements. Hojbjerg could be a good option, with his experience in the Premier League and his familiarity with the league’s physical demands.

It could be easier to persuade Hojbjerg to join United given the presence of fellow Danish players Eriksen and Hojlund. However, any loan deal for Hojbjerg may be complicated by the fact that United already have Sergio Reguilon on loan from the same club which is against Premier League rules.