Here’s Chris with his article on Christian Eriksen and whether he will move from Spurs this Summer
Will Christian Eriksen Explore Greener Pastures?
Tottenham’s surge under Mauricio Pochettino in the latter half of this decade has been a major source of inspiration for less-celebrated clubs everywhere.
However, with the Argentine ending a fifth season in North London silverware free, there is a feeling that Tottenham’s continued status as a solid top-four club may be short-lived from here.
Such a feeling may be confirmed if Danish dynamo Christian Eriksen departs Tottenham, for a club with more of a culture for trophy-winning this summer, and sparks a potential exodus.
Eriksen: The Nucleus in Spurs’ Band of Brothers
Midfield all-rounder Eriksen arrived at White Hart Lane in August 2013, just weeks after the departure of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid left a void in the hole between midfield and attack.
With big boots to fill, Eriksen gelled impressively well alongside fellow newcomer Erik Lamela, and made sure that Tottenham had a driving force from midfield throughout 2013/14. This would be built upon by Mauricio Pochettino from the moment of his arrival in Summer 2014.
Pochettino continued what predecessor Tim Sherwood had begun – and more. As a natural athlete, Eriksen thrived under the endurance-focused regime of Pochettino. Ultimately, this provided the foundation for a vintage 2015/16, in which Tottenham made the Premier League podium for the first time, with breakthrough star Dele Alli thriving alongside visionary Eriksen.
Real Madrid – the Destination of Choice?
Back in 2017/18, Eriksen enjoyed his best Premier League scoring rate for Tottenham, matching his league tally of 2014/15 (ten goals) having played a game less.
While 2018/19 was seemingly all about the rise of Son Heung-Min, and his relationship with Lucas Moura and Harry Kane, Eriksen’s versatility always gives Pochettino an element of surprise to play with.
However, the full extent of the psychological repercussions, after Tottenham’s lost Champions League final, are yet to be truly accounted for.
This has not been lost on the mainstream media, and in the week immediately after said final, departure rumours of varying magnitude and credibility cropped up with a vengeance.
Amongst the most eyebrow-raising was Real Madrid’s rumoured pursuit of Eriksen – with Tottenham’s reported price tag being an astonishing £130m.
On the face of the situation, Eriksen has the opportunity to make a real impact at a club in transition. Fellow Premier League star Eden Hazard is leaving London for the Galacticos, and within that there is the potential for a very dangerous partnership.
Real Madrid also ended 2018/19 without a major trophy, meaning that there is surely going to be an appetite for change at the Bernabeu. As such, the likelihood of him rotting on the bench if he signs for Real Madrid appears remarkably low.
Other Suitors in the Pipeline
Nine-figure moves such as those described above are easier said than done without compromise, and should there be any disagreement in terms, several other clubs stand as realistic candidates to court the Dane with vengeance.
Amongst the most notable of Real’s potential rivals for Eriksen’s signature are PSG and Manchester United.
For their part, PSG are set to remain as dominant as ever in 2019/20, and with Adrien Rabiot imminently leaving the Parc des Princes, Eriksen seems to be the ideal candidate to fill the gap that will be left by him.
As for Manchester United, the lack of Champions League football is an issue. However, there is ample opportunity for Ole Gunnar Solskjær to balance the books, possibly by selling the likes of Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Romelu Lukaku, before paying the world for Eriksen.
However, as noted on the Sporting Index spread betting news Solskjær’s reign has yielded mixed results, and overall, his tenure has the hallmarks of a slow-burning long-term project. This potentially relegates Manchester United to outsiders in the race for Eriksen’s signature.
Better the Devil you know?
In the event of Eriksen being sold for a king’s ransom, Pochettino’s immediate instinct may be to fill the gap as a first priority.
Such has been Eriksen’s influence for the last six years, Pochettino would be right to invest in fresh midfield talent straight away, but players with a genuine hunger to prove themselves are the order of the day.
Anything other than the shrewdest of selections here would spell disaster, and in any case, a majority of Eriksen’s realistic potential replacements are also still untested quantities in the uncompromising Premier League.
Ultimately, despite remaining without a major cup winner’s medal in Tottenham colours, Eriksen’s contributions remain of vital importance. Furthermore, the modern game is beset with clubs that promise much and pay more, but fail to engender the same vibe of brotherhood that currently maintains Tottenham’s lofty position. In that scenario, all sense of personal development is thrown to the wind.
At 27 years old, Eriksen is on-course to become the greatest Dane ever to grace a football field, but making the right move this summer – if any – will be vital to him attaining that status.
