Joelinton has shone as a makeshift box-to-box player under Eddie Howe, but he’s reverted back to an attacking role in recent weeks which suggests he won’t start in midfield next season. The 24-year-old’s successor has big shoes to fill as Joelinton was turning over possession regularly and was brilliant at carrying the ball from deep.
Newcastle may have identified a replacement in the form of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The 26-year-old averages a tackle (72) or interception (43) every 24 minutes while creating 21 chances, winning 23 aerial duels, having 38 successful dribbles, blocked 10 shots and making 43 clearances in 32 Premier League games this season.
He might be available for £30m this summer and Kevin Phillips says Newcastle should jump at the chance to sign him, telling Football Insider: “I think he’s a good player. He really surprised me when he came from Southampton to Tottenham.
“I always thought he was a bit suspect, but he’s won me round ever since. He just knows what he’s good at, and he does it really well. He’s a really accomplished player.
“He can sit in front of the back four, mop up, and give it to the ball players. That’s exactly what Eddie Howe is after. I think he could turn out to be a really good signing, especially at £30million.”
Bruno Guimaraes was signed as a defensive-midfielder, but he’s shown he can play higher up the pitch and affect the game in the final third. That means Howe needs somebody else to protect the backline and thwart opposition attacks.
Hojbjerg does that for Tottenham and he boasts an 89.2% pass completion ratio, so he seldom gives the ball away. There’s no suggestion Spurs are willing to sell him this summer, nor does Hojberg want to leave, so Newcastle might have a task on their hands to sign him.
In other news, Frank McAvennie says Bruno Guimaraes will reject offers to leave Newcastle
