Spurs to block January exits for two midfielders

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats when they face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. 

The Lilywhites stated the season superbly and topped the Premier League table after ten matches, but defeats to Chelsea, Wolves, and Aston Villa over the past month have seen Ange Postecoglou’s side drop down to sixth.

Injuries to James Maddison and Micky van de Ven – both sustained during the defeat to Chelsea – have undoubtedly derailed Postecoglou’s side’s run of form, and the Citizens will provide a tough challenge on Sunday.

Now, it appears that an injury to another key player has forced Spurs to change their plans for the January transfer window.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s recent injury has prompted those in charge of the club to decide that they will block both Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp from leaving next month, according to Football Insider.

Uruguay international Bentancur had only recently returned from a long injury lay-off, but now faces up to ten weeks on the sidelines after being forced off with a ligament tear against Aston Villa last week.

Bentancur faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines

With that in mind, the report suggests that Spurs will now reject any interest in both Hojbjerg and Skipp when the January transfer window opens.

Skipp, 23, is a product of the Lilywhites’ youth academy and has now made more than 90 appearances for the club across all competitions.

He has largely played a bit-part role for Tottenham since breaking into the first team, though, starting just one Premier League game so far this season.

Hojbjerg, meanwhile, joined Spurs from Southampton in 2020 and has since made a total of 158 appearances for the club.

Having initially been a regular starter under previous manager Antonio Conte, the Dane has slipped down the pecking order since the arrival of Postecoglou and has largely been used as a substitute so far this term.

The former Saints man is said to be a target for Italian side Juventus, but Tottenham will reject any interest in either midfielder unless replacements are signed.