It's not been a recent development, PEH has been coming on and shoring things up all season, occasionally having to sort out performances that had started to wobble in the latter stages.
I agree with both yours and Harris following points, at the risk of repeating myself I just don't think he is a fashionable player to rate, the recent dodgy barnets haven't helped in particular that ill-fated side parting! Because he was in an almost teachers pet role with Jose and Conte I think people link him to the lack of success / free flowing football of those eras but Pierre is a great player to have around. Seems certain that Ange would agree given the impact that he has on games and that he invariably turns to PEH rather than say Skipp. The club wasn't as desperate to sell / get rid of him as many fans, who had it as almost already done once Ange was appointed last summer.
Given the contract situation and the players want to be a starter it does make sense to get what we can and attempt to upgrade that area of the squad, but obviously that isn't an easy thing to do. Italian league seems a reasonable prediction but I still see PEH fitting in really well at Atletico Madrid. I would rather keep him but would also wish him the best wherever he moves on to.