Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Newcastle update after new 'talks'
Newcastle United have held talks over a deal to sign Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as they ramp up their transfer plans.
The 31-year-old has emerged as a leading target for Matthias Jaissle's side in their attempts to strengthen their midfild in the final month of the summer transfer window.
After losing both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, there are major concerns about the Magpies' midfield depth, and work is now underway to resolve the issue.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Hojbjerg will be a solid and dependable option, with his Premier League experience seen as key.
The Denmark international spent almost a decade in English football with Southampton and Tottenham, before making the switch to Marseille first on loan and then permanently.
He could now be ready for a return to the Premier League, with Newcastle scouts having been impressed by his credentials as they scramble to replace their outgoing stars.
Will Newcastle make a move to sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?
Football Insider reported on 8 August that Newcastle could be about to pull off a significant coup in their pursuit of Hojbjerg, with the midfielder valued at just £15million.
That fee would represent just a fraction of the money brought in through major sales, and allow for greater spending elsewhere, with major additions needed in the coming weeks.
While there are concerns that Hojbjerg would represent a step down from their previous midfield options, he is highly regarded at Newcastle, and they have been backed to land the deal.
"Newcastle have held talks about signing Pierre Emile Hojbjerg," Brown told Football Insider.
"He was always a solid player, he does what he does to a good standard, I'm not convinced he was ever in that top echelon of players, but he would be a reliable option.
"It's one I can see happening, because everybody knows at this stage that Newcastle are looking for a new midfielder.
"They've got a major problem in that area of the pitch with Tonali and Guimaraes both leaving, there's a big hole in their midfield that they desperately need to fill.
"Whether Hojbjerg is good enough to do that, I'm not sure, because he's certainly not an upgrade on either of the players who have left.
"But it's a step in the right direction for Newcastle, bringing in a player to plug the gap who has Premier League experience and they know they can rely upon."
Which other midfielders are on Newcastle's radar?
Following the departures of both Tonali and Guimaraes, the Magpies will be forced to bring in more than one midfielder in the closing month of the transfer window.
Hojbjerg's arrival would be the first step towards resolving their issues, but work is ongoing behind the scenes to identify more options to add to Jaissle's squad.
Football Insider revealed on 5 August that Newcastle are still very much interested in getting a deal done for Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
The Sweden international has previously made clear his desire to leave Spurs, while both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have seen offers rejected this summer.
However, after raking in around £175million from two major midfield departures this summer, the Magpies are now well-placed to improve their offer and step up their pursuit.