Exclusive: Roma Priced Out of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg Move as Marseille Demand £52m

Roma have been priced out of a move for Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Tottenham Hotspur sold the player to Marseille this summer and two big Serie A clubs had identified the 30-year-old as a top target.

Our sources have been told Roma and Juventus were both keen to sign the Denmark international in January.

But Marseille have slapped a massive £52million price tag on the player, who has made 93 international appearances, they signed from the Premier League in the last window.

It is understood that Roma have ended their pursuit of the player as a result and are now focused on other targets, which include Jason Sancho. 

Roma have seen the success of Old Trafford outcast Rasmus Hojlund and Scotland World Cup hero Scott McTominay since they both swapped the Red Devils for Serie A.

SportsBoom also exclusively revealed Roma were one of a number of clubs chasing out-of-favour United striker Joshua Zirkzee, a move which is still top of the Italian club's agenda when the window reopens in a few weeks time.

Juventus were left incensed at Marseille’s demands for Hojgberg, which they described as “prohibitive”. 

It is understood that Spurs have a decent sell-on percentage embedded in the contract and that has played a part in Marseille’s price tag.

Littered with Individual Honours

Born in Copenhagen, the defensive midfielder came through the ranks at a number of Danish clubs.

Tipped as a breakout star, Hojbjerg secured a huge move to Bayern Munich at 17, months after being named Danish U17 Player of the Year, and made his first-team debut before his 18th birthday.

He made 17 Bundesliga appearances for the club, which coincided with a successful spell at the German giants who won back-to-back league titles a Champions League and Club World Cup.

He penned a five-year deal with Southampton for almost £13million and then moved to Tottenham for £15million plus add-ons, and suffered EFL Cup final heartache with both clubs.

Hojbjerg was named in the 2020 Euros Team of the Tournament and Danish Player of the Year in 2022.