Tottenham Hotspur’s Scandinavian playmaker Christian Eriksen is on the move.
With just six months remaining on his deal in north London, the Dane is free to talk to foreign clubs over a potential free transfer this summer. For the majority of the window, it has appeared Inter Milan are in the driving seat to secure the 27-year-old’s signature. Although, The Mirror has reported that PSG are ready to rival the Serie A giants to secure Eriksen’s services.
Eriksen, valued at £81m (Transfermarkt), may be more suited to joining Thomas Tuchel’s Ligue 1 Champions as opposed to Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan. The feisty Italian prioritises industry in his midfield as proven by his 2016/17 Premier League title-winning engine room pair of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic whilst in charge of Chelsea.
With Inter Milan Conte has been no different, Marcelo Brozovic, Nicolo Barella and Matias Vecino have been his first-choice midfield trio, all of whom fit the destroyer or box to box mould. It is difficult to see where Eriksen would fit into Conte’s plans without the Italian altering the formation he has preferred this season.
Meanwhile, PSG have also utilised three defensively minded midfielders this term; however, the French league leaders are less tactically rigid than their Italian counterparts. Idrissa Gueye, Marco Verratti and Marquinhos have tended to start, but the Brazilian is also a competent centre back and could drop into the defence should Eriksen arrive. With two combative midfielders behind him, the Danish international would be given the freedom to roam the attacking third in search of space, safe in the knowledge Verratti and Gueye can cover the gaps left behind him.
It is not to say a move to Milan would not suit Eriksen, but Conte has tended to use a five-man defence throughout his career and rarely includes a traditional playmaker in midfield. Eriksen’s addition would force Conte to adapt significantly more than Tuchel would be required to do. Furthermore, if the 27-year-old is in search of increased wages having conformed to Spurs’ structure for so long, and a virtual guarantee of winning silverware, Paris could be the ideal destination for the wantaway star.
