‘Obvious’: Everton target tipped to join Tottenham, Spurs ‘most likely’ move

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Tottenham Hotspur are a more ‘likely’ destination than Everton and Manchester United for Brentford talisman Christian Eriksen, former Premier League ace Danny Murphy tells talkSPORT (6 June, 12pm). 

Champions League football, the presence of Antonio Conte, and the fact he would not have to uproot his family after just five months back in London; There are at least three pretty good reasons, off the top of our heads, why Christian Eriksen would relish the possibility to pick up where he left off at Spurs. 

iNews claim today that Tottenham are weighing up a move for the free-agent Dane, after holding talks with his representatives. 

And, if Eriksen is to be on the move again after a sublime if short-lived spell at Brentford, Murphy feels that a 30-year-old who played under Conte at Inter Milan would benefit most from re-tracing his steps. 

Will Christian Eriksen return to Tottenham?

“I think he’s got to go somewhere where he’s going to play, first and foremost,” says the former Tottenham, Liverpool and England midfielder.

“With the way (Manchester) United are, they’ve just given Bruno Fernandes a new contract. You can’t play two number tens. I think it’s a non-starter. Fernandes is probably in his prime where Eriksen is nearing the end. So I don’t think United is his destination. 

“Everton? Possibly. But if he’s based in London, going back to Tottenham would be the obvious. That’s probably the most likely.” 

Murphy’s one concern, however, revolves around whether Eriksen could slot into Conte’s famed 3-4-3 formation, as one of two central midfield players. For all he possesses in guile, the former Ajax starlet lacks the grit of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur. 

“The only thing is, if Conte continues with the 3-4-3, which he likes, you would argue Eriksen would only play in the middle of the pitch,” Murphy adds.

“Against lesser opposition, when they dominate the ball, that would be fine. But against the big boys, you wouldn’t put him in one of the two (central midfielders) would you?”