RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesMarseille's Danish midfielder #23 Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Stade Rennais FC at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, southern France, on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Newcastle United’s attempts to rebuild its midfield have taken several turns already this summer, with Matthias Jaissle still looking for a seasoned veteran to lead his team 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 having given the Magpies an initial approval for the move.
According to The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones , however, Hojbjerg’s decision has not only disappointed Newcastle, but 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.”
Out of the blue, Newcastle identified the 31-year-old as the experienced player new manager Jaissle wanted at the base of his midfield, with previous reports suggesting 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 quickly in order to generate money for its own summer business. Meanwhile, Newcastle will now have to move even quicker down its midfield shortlist, as there are less than three weeks left in the transfer window and barely 10 days for the start of the Premier League.
Hojbjerg seems not to have been entirely enticed by the Magpies’ offer and is instead assessing his future, with AC Milan reportedly interested should he ultimately decide to leave Marseille.
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.
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