Tottenham midfielder Pierre Emile Højbjerg is Diego Simeone’s first choice and the one he ‘likes the most’ to bolster his midfield at Atlético Madrid next season.
That’s according to AS, who say the Tottenham man is Simeone’s ‘favourite’ as he looks for a new defensive midfielder.
The newspaper explains that the Argentine coach has communicated to those in charge at the Wanda Metropolitano in ‘numerous mini-meetings’ that he wants to sign Højbjerg this summer.
That was again the case yesterday when he met briefly with sports director Andrea Berta and CEO Miguel Ángel Gil during pre-season in Los Angeles.
Several names are on the table to fill the pivot position in the squad, but Simeone’s favourite is Højbjerg, a player who he likes because of his positioning, his ability to cover the field and his ‘quality with the ball’.
The Spanish side are boosted by the fact Højbjerg would like to move on and ‘wants to play in the Champions League’ next season, something Tottenham cannot offer him.
However, any operation is ‘complicated’ by the fact Spurs have put a €45m asking price on the midfielder, a big and unattainable figure for Atlético, who have been targeting much cheaper options to bolster their squad.
Tottenham are also seen as a difficult club to negotiate with, particularly as Daniel Levy is a ‘tough and rocky negotiator’ when it comes to transfers.
Simeone has made it clear that he wants the player, though, and so it seems Atlético will try and work something out with Spurs, particularly with Højbjerg keen to join a Champions League club this summer.
