Newcastle United’s attempts to rebuild its midfield have taken several turns already this summer, with Matthias Jaissle still looking for an experienced presence after the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
The latest setback came Monday when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg rejected a move to St. James’ Park despite Newcastle reaching an advanced stage in negotiations with the player giving them an initial approval for the move.
Now, The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones reports that the decision has not
only disappointed the Magpies—it has also infuriated Marseille.
“Daily Mail Sport understands Marseille’s owners have been left furious by this change of heart,” Jones reported. “The French club, keen to raise funds for their own summer spending, provisionally agreed to selling the Dane to the Toon.”
Newcastle had identified the 31-year-old as the experienced organizer Jaissle wanted at the base of his midfield, and previous reports suggested the Magpies were prepared to meet Marseille’s valuation of approximately £13 million (€15 million).
According to Jones, negotiations initially appeared to be heading in the right direction before Hojbjerg unexpectedly reversed course.
“Talks had initially gone well but the 31-year-old changed his mind over the deal,” Jones reported.
That leaves Marseille without a transfer it apparently wanted to complete in order to generate money for its own summer business, while Newcastle must quickly move down its midfield shortlist.
The situation could become even more frustrating for the Magpies because one of their alternatives may now be heading elsewhere. Newcastle had identified Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha as a backup option, but Aston Villa has stepped up its pursuit while the Magpies concentrated on Hojbjerg.
“Newcastle had also considered Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha as a potential back-up but after putting in effort on Hojbjerg, that has left the door open for Aston Villa to step up their negotiations with the Portuguese,” Jones reported.
Hojbjerg, meanwhile, is still assessing his future, with AC Milan reportedly interested should he ultimately decide to leave Marseille.
Newcastle now has to regroup with less than three weeks remaining before the transfer deadline. Sporting director Ross Wilson is prioritizing an experienced midfielder and a full-back, but losing Hojbjerg—and potentially seeing Palhinha disappear from the market as well—could force the club to quickly turn toward another target.
The Hojbjerg saga might be finished from Newcastle’s perspective, but Marseille’s reported reaction suggests his transfer situation is anything but settled.
Who should the Magpies move for now after missing out on a bargain deal for a veteran midfielder to lead the team? Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
