Reports: Spurs open negotiations with Real Madrid over Christian Eriksen

It looked for a while like Christian Eriksen might once again slide under the transfer rumor radar for another season, and maybe remain at Tottenham Hotspur for another year. But the winds are shifting, and there are new (somewhat questionable) reports out of Spain saying Real Madrid is now casting its Sauron-like eye on the Danish playmaker.

First, Madrid-centric website Bernabeu Digitál writes that Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has okayed the pursuit and acquisition of Eriksen this summer after being frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiating for Manchester United’s Paul Pogba. That site also says that Eriksen and his wife have started house-hunting in Madrid, something also referenced in a report by Danish outlet ​Fyens Stiftstidende.

MARCA, meanwhile, goes one step further, saying that Daniel Levy has phoned Madrid president Florentino Perez to begin negotiations for the sale of Eriksen. MARCA says that Spurs are hoping to secure a transfer fee of €70-80m (~£63-71m) for his sale.

Are these outstanding pro-Madrid publications trustworthy and without peer in their reporting? A resounding NOPE. However, is selling Eriksen to Madrid a plausible scenario that could happen this summer? Absolutely. We already know well what Eriksen has publicly said about a move to Madrid and his plans for a “new challenge,” and we also know he’s refused to sign a contract extension. Spurs don’t want to lose him for free when his contract expires next summer, so they’re willing to cash in on him now if Madrid is at all interested. Previous reports suggested that if Madrid decided not to pursue him, Eriksen would consider a new deal at Tottenham.

So stay skeptical of these reports, as they’re coming from extremely pro-Madrid sources in Spain. However, this is an extremely plausible scenario. And while the purchase of Jack Clarke and Tanguy Ndombele could likely be accomplished without any player sales, adding an extra £63m to the transfer kitty opens up a world of possibilities, and might also tip the balance for Spurs to land Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis, likely a direct Eriksen replacement. Things are hotting up in a summer of change for Spurs.