Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has hinted at a possible move for Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as he continues his Toffees revolution.
The 24-year-old had his captaincy removed last week by Ralph Hasenhuttl and was omitted entirely from the matchday squad against Watford.
With Goodison Park looming as a possible destination for the Danish international, Ancelotti kept his cards close to his chest but admitted his admiration for the Saints man.
“I know Hojbjerg, he’s a good player,” he said in his press conference ahead of Everton’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Hasenhuttl admits star could leave
This comes after Hasenhuttl admitted that “a few clubs” were after Hojbjerg’s signature and added “we have to find an alternative” for when he eventually departs St. Mary’s.
Spurs had previously been heavily linked with a move for the Dane, but Everton are believed to have swooped in to be favourites to secure the signing.
The Toffees felt they had replaced Idrissa Gana Gueye with Jean-Philippe Gbamin, but an injury riddled season for the Ivorian has forced them into the market again.
Ancelotti: Wait until the end of the season
Ancelotti was pragmatic as ever when asked about the former Saints skipper, insisting that for as long as he is on the South Coast there was nothing to discuss.
“He is playing for Southampton, so I don’t want to talk about another Premier League player and one that we are playing against soon,” he said.
“I can give an opinion about him at the end of the season.”
Hojbjerg had played the full 90 minutes on all but two occasions up until his exclusion from the trip to Vicarage Road and has been a key player for Southampton since his arrival three seasons ago.
A former Pep Guardiola prodigy at Bayern Munich, Hojbjerg has three assists to his name this season and has made 119 appearances for the club.