Inter Target Tottenham Star

Tottenham are preparing to brace themselves for a possible move by Inter Milan for Christian Eriksen.

The legendary Italian club recently acquired new owners — Chinese retail outfit Suning — and, as of Monday, will be under new management soon enough. Eriksen will be just one part of a plan to once again attempt to rejuvenate an Inter side that has stalled out since winning the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

These reports come the same day that Inter announced that they would part ways with coach Roberto Mancini. The former Manchester City manager led Inter to the top of the Serie A table by Christmas of last season, only to see the club’s fortunes tumble thereafter as Juventus and Roma reclaimed some of their lost momentum. The Nerazzurri would finish fourth, 13 points shy of a chance at the Champions League.

It wouldn’t therefore be fair to say that Tottenham’s 6-1 demolition of a strong Inter XI named by Mancini in last Friday’s pre-season friendly was a direct cause of his termination. It was instead likely just the last ignominious act of a man who was facing the exit for months now.

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It’s with just a little irony, then, that the club would turn to Tottenham as among its first steps to prepare for a post-Mancini era. Former Ajax coach Frank de Boer will reportedly be brought in at some point this week, and the powers that be at Inter are understood to be prepared to present a freshly signed and gift-wrapped Eriksen to their new coach.

That might be a wish too far however. Perhaps no player beyond Hugo Lloris has been relied upon over the last three seasons quite as much as Eriksen. The 24-year-old’s implanted himself as a central cog in Tottenham’s attacking machine. He could not be easily removed, much less replaced.

That said, Eriksen himself seems to be hesitant to sign a new deal with Tottenham that doesn’t include a substantial pay raise. While it seemed only a formality at the time — both sides were optimistic about a deal eventually being signed — the emergence of Inter as a possible alternative for Eriksen complicates matters.

Denying any formal offer from the Italian giants would be sufficient cause for Eriksen and his representation to demand even more money as part of any new deal. With the club concentrating on a balancing act between prudence and competitiveness, that’s not exactly the best news.

The alternative — letting Eriksen go even as the season is just about to begin — seems by far to be the worse option though. Pochettino would lose the last “true” playmaker in the squad after Alex Pritchard was sold last week, and the club would have to scramble in the final weeks of the transfer window to find an an adequate replacement.

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Such a search would be neither easy nor cheap. Even if Inter are willing to part with a king’s ransom for Eriksen, it might simply not be worth the trouble. There is much more incentive for Pochettino and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to keep hold of Eriksen whatever the cost.

The club has been lucky this summer to avoid any real threats to its best players. Lloris and Harry Kane have in recent summers been the subject of speculation, particularly in connection with Manchester United. That Tottenham were able to retain those players in those situations bodes well for how they will be able to handle any interest from Inter.