Ajax to rival Tottenham for Premier League midfielder

Ajax will lock horns with Tottenham for the signature of Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, claims The Daily Telegraph.

Hojbjerg has entered the final 12 months of his current Southampton contract and will be sold this summer after failing to agree new terms.

The Denmark international was stripped of the captain's armband earlier this summer as a result of his contract stand-off, with Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho keen.

Forced to work on a limited budget as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Mourinho hopes to land Hojbjerg on a cut-price deal to boost his midfield options.

However, it has now emerged Ajax are ready to launch a £15m move for the former Bayern Munich prodigy.

The Dutch giants are preparing for the departure of star midfielder Donny van de Beek this summer and want to add experience to their ranks for next season.

Hojbjerg has come on leaps and bounds for Southampton this season and emerged as a real leader before being replaced as club captain.

The 24-year-old has missed Southampton's last two games through injury but is available again to help the club complete their final five league matches of the season.

Hojbjerg has won possession in the midfield third at least 36 more times than any other player in the Premier League this season (174).