Saints Sign Hojbjerg ! But Is He Schneiderlin Or Wanyama ?
Monday, 11th Jul 2016 23:03

Saints have announced the signing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Bayern Munich, but Saints fans are asking the question of just who he is replacing in the Saints squad.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a Saints type of signing, he is young, has plenty of ability the potential to improve, but has yet to really make his mark at the highest level.

This is the quality of player that Saints look for these days, they do not try to compete with the top clubs for the truly established players, they look for the potential and over the past couple of years this has paid dividends.

Saints fans on social media have been quick to suggest that from their sightings of him during his loan spell with Schalke last season he is more akin to Morgan Schneiderlin with the ability to read the game and win the ball through that, than the more brute force of Victor Wanyama.

I saw Hojbjerg play for Schalke back in March at Hertha Berlin in a 2-0 defeat, I have to say I did not really notice Hojbjerg, but the Schalke side appeared to be comfortable on the ball and able to break up Hertha's attacks well.

The arrival of Hojbjerg 0n the back of Nathan Redmond shows that the club has it's potential transfer targets well and truly mapped out and identified, so far there have been three big departures for a total income in transfer fees of around £59 million with another £5 million on top of that for Koeman.

Our two signings so far this summer have cost around £22 million, so we still have a fair amount still in the pot.

Executive Director of Football Les Reed said: “Pierre is an exciting young talent, who we are delighted to welcome to Southampton Football Club.

“At the age of just 20, he is already an established international player with Denmark and has gained significant and valuable experience while at Bayern Munich and in the Bundesliga.

“Pierre boasts an impressive pedigree, as well as a great deal of potential, and it is testament to our reputation that he has chosen Southampton ahead of other suitors as the next step in his career.

“We believe the club will be an ideal place for Pierre to continue his progression and that he will be an excellent addition to our squad.

“We now have the perfect blend of positional strength, experience and dynamic youth in our midfield slots. There will be healthy competition, but also the required depth and robustness for our challenge in the Europa League.

“I believe as a group we probably have a choice from the best pool of midfield options in the Premier League.”

Pierre-Emile HÃ¸jbjerg said: “I’m very pleased. It’s a big opportunity for me. I look forward to giving what I have and what I can to the club. They have put trust in me and I want to show them that they are not wrong.

“When I heard that Southampton came in for me I said to my people that this is what I want to do because I can see myself at Southampton, as it’s the way I like to think, the way I like to play and it fits me really well.

“I hope I can come here also and be a part of the Southampton family and give what I have to fight for the club and fight for my teammates.”

With thanks to Southampton Football Club for pictures and quotations.

Photo: Action Images

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Jesus_02 added 00:37 - Jul 12

"We now have the perfect blend of positional strength, experience and dynamic youth in our midfield slots. "

I think that means we have done all we are going to do in terms of replacing Mane and Wanyama

I can imagine that we will get a cheap-ish Striker in as cover for Austin and J-Rod (assuming we don't sell Long as well)

Apart from that we may get that Left back everyone has been going on about as Bertrand is in the last year of his contract

I cant see us challenging for much this year but we may well invest at Christmas and next summer to keep the pot bubbling

SanMarco added 00:50 - Jul 12 If he is replacing MS is he not a year late??
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IWOZTHERE added 01:02 - Jul 12

From what I've read he sounds an excellent fit,but as pointed out, in place of who? I think there are more question marks over Clasie than Romeu. Ignoring silly arguments over the pros and cons of spending 'big', If there is one position that will take decent money to sort out, it would be attacking midfielder/playmaker. Romeu was messed about while VW was here but when he was in, appeared very capable of assuming the defensive role. Clasie, in his crucial role, has not convinced me. Hojbjerg may develop into another Schneiderlin, brilliant....... but, early as it is, this feels like the precursor to Saints not only not touching the TV millions again, but this year when there's no excuse, siphoning off millions from a transfer surplus?

IWOZTHERE added 01:07 - Jul 12 Sorry It was neggie, it sounds a good signing, but I really thought that this summer would be different.
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kenis added 01:43 - Jul 12 Jesus_02 Bertrand has three years left under his current contract. From 2nd Feb 2015: "Ryan Bertrand joins Southampton for Â£10m from Chelsea on four-and-a-half year deal" Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2937145/Southampton-sign-Ryan-
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kenis added 01:56 - Jul 12

Romeu is not as good / better and wasn't better than Wanyama when he played. They are slightly different types of players though. Hojbjerg seems more a Schneiderlin than a Wanyama, and so is more competition for Romeu and Claise or signals a change in style of play to two similar/all round type of players in the centre rather than one much more defensive minded player. This could mean more pressure on our defense - Wanyama was a big part of our great defensive records over the past few years. I hope we still sign another Wanyama type but seems unlikely given our numbers in central midfield now. Priorities now are goalkeeper and potentially one or both of a striker/playmaker (Berahino/Praet) and another defender (but only if an upgrade on Maya, Gardos, Martina, Targett, Stephens, Turnbull)

BaselSaint added 07:45 - Jul 12 Agree kenIs, 2 strikers and GK cover. A midfield general would be good; Reckon Les might already have someone in mind.
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A1079 added 09:20 - Jul 12 Who were the other interested suitors that we managed to beat?
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Whiteknight added 10:23 - Jul 12

I hope that Les Reed is just being coy - I think we have more targets. It's also important not to lose anyone else.

I think that, if we are serious about cups and EL, we need another GK, another CB (as cover/competition), another DM, a play-maker and an out and out striker. I also think that we need them in sooner rather than later to really benefit from pre-season. If VVD had arrived in pre-season last year we would be talking Champions League this year. I do, however, think that we can take a risk with youth in the League Cup. I also think that the JPL is a great chance for our young players to play against some cynical old pros!

As was said in another post - THE FUTURE'S RED AND WHITE!

highfield49 added 11:49 - Jul 12

In response to A1079 I recall reading recently that Liverpool had been looking to sign Hojbjerg and I have no doubt there were others because he talked about clubs in Germany,Italy,Spain and England who had made approaches. Looking at clips on youtube this guy has terrific potential. And, before everyone jumps on the bandwagon, no doubt Liverpool will be offering at least Â£35m for his signature in a couple of years haha.

schatfield added 11:56 - Jul 12 he seems to be defo more of a Schniderlein, and looks a great signing. Reports suggest we wont get another striker with Austin now. Same with defense as we have the forgotten man, Yoshi. I think a left or right back, and a back-up keeper unless Gazza finally proves himself.
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SanMarco added 12:11 - Jul 12 Forgotten for a reason schatfield. We definitely do need a proven goalscorer a one more m/f and defender and reserve keeper.
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Ali_Diarea added 12:45 - Jul 12 "...the best pool of midfielders in the EPL." What planet is this guy on?!!
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ExiledSupporter added 12:46 - Jul 12

I think we should go and get a really classy No 10, a type of player we have missed for some time, forlornly I had hoped that our disappointing Uruguayan would fit the bill, but now I would go all out to get Wijnaldum not least because he contributes a good number of goals from midfield as well a creating many opportunities (I'm worried about where all the goals will come from having lost Mane & Pelle's contributions while being uncertain about Austin's and JRod's form and fitness)

SaintPaulVW added 14:21 - Jul 12 Hopefully a good signing, Yes we need a few more players but I'd rather they spend some of the the excess transfer money on upping key players contracts to try to tie them for longer to avoid the final year of contract panic that we've experienced over the last few years.
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