The Magpies had identified Hojbjerg as a prime candidate to fill the void left by Bruno Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal last Saturday. Hojbjerg's extensive Premier League experience, with over 250 top-flight appearances to his name, made him an attractive option for Newcastle. The 31-year-old has previously played for Tottenham and Southampton, making 145 and 109 Premier League appearances respectively.
Newcastle were reportedly willing to meet Marseille's valuation of Hojbjerg, but the Dane ultimately chose to remain at the French club. This decision marks another significant blow for the Magpies, who have seen several key players leave the club this summer. Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona for £70m, while Sandro Tonali became Tottenham's club record signing for £100m.
The uncertainty surrounding Hojbjerg's future at Marseille may have played a role in his decision to stay. Newcastle's new manager, Matthias Jaissle, will now have to find an alternative solution to replace Guimaraes. Jaissle's side next play Everton in a friendly on August 12, before facing Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg. The Magpies' Premier League opener against Liverpool is scheduled for August 23, and Jaissle will hope that Anthony Elanga can fully recover from his injury in time for the match.