Tim Sherwood admits he fears Tottenham Hotspur could be inundated with enquiries for Christian Eriksen when the summer transfer window opens.
Of all the players signed with the cash received from the world record sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in August, Eriksen has undoubtedly been the most successful. The Denmark international, who joined from Ajax in an £11million deal, has scored 10 goals from 33 appearances in all competitions, as well as assisting a dozen more.
Although the 22-year-old, who is under contract until the summer of 2018, has indicated he has no plans to quit White Hart Lane despite the likely absence of UEFA Champions League football next season, this hasn’t calmed Sherwood’s nerves. The Spurs boss is aware of how cutting the transfer window can be, and fears Eriksen could be a target for rivals.
“You are always fearful that someone might come and take one of your best players and Christian is certainly one,” he said. “I watched him at 17 years of age at Wembley for Denmark and I rang (chairman) Daniel Levy the day after and said that he need to sign this boy – £10million later he is finally here, so that is all good news.
“I don’t think he was available [at the time] and I think he wanted to continue his education at Ajax and that is what happened. And perhaps Daniel didn’t follow up on it as he does not follow-up on every player I tell him. He has been great acquisition for the club and they have done well to bring him in. He has just turned 22 and he has a head of a 35-year-old.”
By the time the window reopens in the summer, the matter of keeping Eriksen may not be Sherwood’s problem. The 45-year-old was appointed as Andre Villas-Boas’ successor in December, and despite being given an 18 month contract, he is widely expected to be replaced by a more experienced coach ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.
However, Tottenham’s reported pursuit of Louis van Gaal could be hindered by news emerging from Old Trafford that Manchester United are about to sack David Moyes. It is believed the 62-year-old Dutch coach, who will quit his job as Holland coach after the World Cup Finals this summer, is a candidate to succeed the former Everton boss.
