Christian Eriksen has said he is looking for a new challenge after six years at Tottenham Hotspur and wants his future to be resolved quickly, with the north London club open to selling him this summer.
The Denmark international, who has only one year left on his contract at White Hart Lane, has been linked with a possible move to both Real Madrid and Manchester United, two underperforming clubs looking to overhaul their team, and wants a “step up” from Spurs.
Spurs cannot afford to allow Eriksen to run down the remaining year of his deal and leave on a free transfer next summer, and have made the player’s availability known. Chairman Daniel Levy values the 27-year-old at £130m, although it is likely the club would accept any offer exceeding the £89m they sold Gareth Bale for in 2013.
Eriksen has until now been quiet on his immediate future but, while on international duty with Denmark, admitted for the first time that he is open to leaving north London.
“I feel I am at a place in my career where I might want to try something new,” Eriksen told Danish daily Ekstra Bladet. “I have the deepest respect for everything that has happened at Tottenham. But I have also said that I would like to try something new.
“I hope there will clarification during the summer. That’s the plan. In football you do not know when clarity comes. It can happen any time. It is best for everyone if a decision is made as soon as possible, but in football these things take time.”
But Eriksen said ultimately the decision was out of his hands.
“It depends on [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy. And another club has to come for me. Or I have to sit down and negotiate a new contract.
“There are not many goals that Tottenham cannot meet. If I have to go, then hopefully it will be a step up. [Real Madrid] is a step up but it requires Real Madrid to call Tottenham and say they want Christian. And they have not done that yet, as far as I know.”
Spurs have already identified Eriksen’s potential replacement and are likely to make another bid for Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, after their opening offer of £53m was rejected.
Lo Celso, 23, has a 100m euro (£88m) release clause and it is understood Betis are holding out for a fee closer to that amount.
The club have not signed a player since January 2018, when they paid Paris St-Germain £23m for winger Lucas Moura, but are planning a summer overhaul with Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele and Fulham winger Ryan Sessegnon also among their targets.
