Højbjerg “expected to complete” Atlético Madrid move in the coming weeks

Atlético Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made progress toward a deal for midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Negotiations have been “slow” according to the Daily Mail, but a deal could be completed in the coming weeks nonetheless. Spurs have already started to search for replacements for the Dane. Relevo have corroborated this information, as Atlético’s summer is really taking shape now.

Højbjerg, at 27, would be considered a coup for Atlético Madrid. He is a technically-excellent midfielder who would add to both Atlético’s control in possession and creativity.

There has been a lot of movement at Atlético in recent days, with a tour that takes them around the world kicking off next week in South Korea before Los Rojiblancos head to Mexico and the United States. Although the João Félix debacle drags on as he pushes for an exit, Atleti have worked on several other deals — the club sold Renan Lodi and Geoffrey Kondogbia to Marseille earlier in the summer, and Diego Simeone now needs a specialist to replace the latter.

Højbjerg, who has also played for Southampton and Bayern Munich, wants to play in next season’s Champions League, while new Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is looking to rebuild the team in his image. Atlético have prioritized the signing of a “5” this summer to take the burden off captain Koke, who turns 32 midway through next season.

Photo by Daniel Carson/Getty Images

Atlético seem keen to get their squad straightened out and save the price of flight tickets on their summer tour for players who have no future at the club. Other moves Atlético might make include an Álvaro Morata sale, as well as another goodbye to Yannick Carrasco as he enters the final year of his contract. Thomas Lemar continue to be linked with a departure, too.

If they can sell all the players mentioned above, including finding a permanent departure for João Félix, they would have plenty of funds to reinvest in a squad that improved greatly in the second half of last season.