Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg once gave Jordan Henderson his backing as the England star reportedly circles a move to French side Marseille.
Hojbjerg left Spurs to join the Ligue 1 side last summer on loan. However that move has now been made permanent with Spurs believed to have pocketed around £17million for the midfielder.
Rumours are now abound that Ajax star Henderson could be headed to the French outfit too, due to a clause in his contract with the Dutch side.
The clause reportedly states he can move on a free transfer this summer if he wishes to activate it, with Marseille thought to be keen on recruiting the 35-year-old.
Should the ex-Liverpool captain make the move to Marseille, the potential switch already has the blessing of Hojbjerg. Speaking ahead of Denmark's Euro 2020 semi-final with England, played in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dane voiced his feelings on Henderson.
"I think England's squad overall are fantastic, their midfield as well," he said. "And the guys who aren't playing from the start. When you're able to bring on a Jordan Henderson, it's a big example of quality."
Henderson won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, captaining the club to both historic victories. However he left in the summer of 2023 for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, after a lack of assurances over first team opportunities at Anfield.
Just six months later, he called time on his Saudi Arabian stint and made the move to Amsterdam. Henderson found himself in a key role in Francesco Farioli’s Ajax side last season as they agonisingly missed out on the Eredivisie title by just one point on the final day.
Despite his standing in Amsterdam, with the World Cup coming up in less than a year it's thought that Henderson has yet to decide whether its Ajax, or Marseille, which can offer him the best chance of showcasing his talents on the European stage.
Henderson has been drafted in to Thomas Tuchel’s recent England squads, but his inclusion was met with some derision as England underperformed in their World Cup qualifiers.
The ex-Sunderland man could now be set to join such players as Mason Greenwood and Adrien Rabiot at Marseille, where under former Brighton boss Robert de Zerbi, the club finished runners up behind Paris Saint-Germain last season. Henderson's willingness to move has also alerted Nottingham Forest, who are also believed to be looking at bringing the midfielder in.
Meanwhile, Hojbjerg started 30 of Marseille's 34 matches this season and played the full 90 minutes in all but two of the games. He scored three goals and made four assists.
Tottenham first signed Hojbjerg from Southampton in 2020 in a £15m deal. He went on to make 184 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals.