Tottenham could have a big job on their hands in this summer’s transfer window – replacing one of their most important players in the form of Christian Eriksen.
The Denmark international has been a joy to watch in his time with Spurs, and it’s little surprise that he could now be on his way to a bigger club in the near future.
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As things stand, Tottenham are not in the best negotiating position, with Eriksen in the final year of his contract with the club and having gone public to admit he’s interested in a change of scene.
“I feel that I am a place in my career where I might want to try something new,’ he recently told Ekstra Bladet.
“I have the biggest respect for everything that has happened in Tottenham but I have also said that I would like to try something new.”
Real Madrid have been linked as one potential suitor for the former Ajax man, though Marca suggest the Spanish giants may now focus on Manchester United’s Paul Pogba instead.
Doubts over Pogba’s future have also led to Eriksen being linked with Man Utd by ESPN, so it’s safe to say he won’t be short of suitors this summer.
How do Tottenham replace such a world class creative player? We’ve got five recommendations below…
1) James Maddison
One of the most exciting young talents in England at the moment, James Maddison really caught the eye for Leicester City in 2018/19 and could surely move to a big six club this summer.
The Daily Mirror have recently linked the 22-year-old with Tottenham, though the Daily Record also claim he’s a £60million target for Manchester United, even if he has reservations about moving to Old Trafford due to their lack of Champions League football.
Spurs could of course give him the top-level European football he craves, and he seems an absolutely ideal like-for-like replacement for Eriksen in Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
2) Donny van de Beek
Tottenham notably snapped Eriksen up from Ajax as a youngster, and they could do well to repeat the trick when it comes to replacing him.
22-year-old midfielder Donny van de Beek has just had a superb season in Holland and the Mail have linked him with the north London giants in recent times.
One imagines plenty of other top teams will be in for the Dutchman this summer after his exciting performances, but he looks an absolutely ideal fit for the style of play at Tottenham.
3) Juan Mata
It remains to be seen what will happen with Juan Mata at Manchester United, but if he is available this summer he’d be a quality signing for Tottenham on a free.
The Spaniard is set to be out of contract with the Red Devils, though the Sun suggest the club are still hoping to keep him by offering him a new deal.
Mata has increasingly fallen down the pecking order in recent times, however, and looks in need of a change, with Tottenham surely able to offer him a key role and a chance to revive his career in that Eriksen role in the team.
4) Adam Lallana
Another top player currently out of favour at a big six rival is Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, with the Mirror recently claiming the Reds could consider offers for him this summer.
The England international shone under Pochettino in their time together at Southampton, and a reunion could now make perfect sense as he’d be a fine like-for-like Eriksen replacement.
Lallana shone whenever called on by Jurgen Klopp last season, but there’s now too much competition in this Liverpool squad for him to play as much as he arguably deserves, so a move to Spurs could be ideal for all involved.
5) Ryan Fraser
An assist machine in the Premier League last season, Ryan Fraser was behind only Eden Hazard with 14 assists for Bournemouth, and he’s now unsurprisingly being linked with a big move away.
Football Insider link him strongly with a £20m move to Arsenal, but Tottenham should surely be in there too if they’re at risk of losing Eriksen.
The Scotland international could join at a fraction of the cost of most other big players this summer, and there’s no reason he should favour Arsenal over Spurs right now as Pochettino’s side can offer Champions League football and a more attractive style of football than their north London rivals at the moment.