Real Madrid should not pursue Christian Eriksen in winter
When Real Madrid comes knocking, it’s awfully difficult for a player to say no, and Real’s interest has been the reason for Christian Eriksen’s slow negotiations with Tottenham.
It’s no secret that Real Madrid are interested in signing center midfielders in the near future, as they need to acquire both depth and youth at the position with the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric only getting older. Although the sensational Dani Ceballos will almost certainly return from loan next summer, Real have still showed a great deal of interest in world-class talents like Paul Pogba and up-and-coming stars like Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek.
One of the biggest names linked to Real Madrid is Tottenham Hotspur’s playmaker Christian Eriksen. The set-piece specialist is one of the best passers in the world, and he could be an intriguing fit in Real’s starting XI in 2020-2021.
In fact, AS reports that Real could pursue Eriksen as swiftly as the winter transfer window this year. Eriksen will be a free agent next summer, but Tottenham would probably prefer to sell him for some money, even at the expense of losing a key player. (They did by Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso in midfield, so they’re better equipped to lose Eriksen than in years past.)
So far, Tottenham have done their best to negotiate with Eriksen and give him a satisfying deal, as Spurs have ambitions of being a perennial force and title contender in the Premier League. After all, they did complete a gutsy run to the Champions League final in 2018-2019.
But Eriksen has largely kept Tottenham in the dark, much to the frustration of Mauricio Pochettino. Everyone in London understands how vital Eriksen is to Tottenham’s success, as he’s the best bet to unlock defenses with a moment of magic; few players in Europe offer the quality Eriksen does when it comes to key passes.
Those traits make Eriksen an enticing option for Real Madrid, and if Tottenham are pressured into selling Eriksen early, perhaps Real come knocking. Yes, they’d prefer to sign Eriksen for free, but if Real’s depth in midfield wanes and another piece is needed in the title run, Real could make the swoop.
But Eriksen doesn’t offer much as an athlete or defender; he’s mostly just a passer. Real already have a player similar to Eriksen in James Rodriguez, and they, again, have to think about Ceballos’s eventual return.
There’s also the fact that Real should be getting younger at the position, which sums up the interest in rising stars like van de Beek and Fernandes. Pogba is in the prime of his career, but, unlike Eriksen, he is far more well-rounded and can play deeper. He’s also better overall.
If Pogba signs a new contract with Manchester United, Real Madrid will likely have to move to Eriksen as their Plan B. Signing Eriksen for free would be a steal, but paying premium for another luxury midfielder who mostly plays in attack might not be best. That’s especially true for a Madrid side that should be looking for younger options in midfield.
Eriksen means more to Tottenham than any other club. but the issue is that Eriksen seems to want to move to a bigger club in Real. Spurs will try to break the bank for Eriksen to show how much they value him, and it would make sense for him to stay. But if he wants to move to Real, it would make sense, from Real’s perspective, to wait until summer.
Purchasing Eriksen in the winter wouldn’t be a disastrous move, however, it would be an impatient one. Perhaps the landscape of the midfield will look different by then, but Real should play their cards wisely here.