Barcelona linked with a move for Eriksen

According to Sky Sports, Barcelona are interested in signing Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen. The Denmark international has been heavily linked with a switch to Italian giants Inter this month. Reportedly, Eriksen is interested in making the move to the Nerazzurri. However, the two clubs have yet to agree on a deal over the attacking midfielder.

Barcelona have emerged as rivals

It seems that Barcelona have emerged as rivals to Inter to sign Eriksen in the January transfer window. The Catalan giants have a new head coach in the shape of Quique Setien. The Real Betis boss is regarded as someone who has greater importance to his teams attacking play, than defensive set-up. With that in mind, a move for Eriksen would make sense. The Dane offers very little in way of defensive play.

However, in terms of numbers, the switch makes little sense. Barcelona have a number of midfield options in the likes of Arthur, Arturo Vidal, Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Frenkie de Jong and highly-rated youngster Riqui Puig.

Eriksen is a different style of player to the ones already at the Catalan club. Unless Setien is set to change the teams almost perennial set-up of three forwards and three midfielders, it seems difficult to see where Eriksen would fit in.

Inter could be a better move for Eriksen

Christian Eriksen is a very good player, but not quite in the top bracket. His performances in the last 12 months have shown that he may never be in seen as a world-class player. Maybe at 27, he feels a move elsewhere will help him improve and that looks likely due to his contract expiring in the summer.

A move to Inter or Barcelona would certainly raise his profile. A move to Barcelona may mean a major fight for first-team football, with the aforementioned players already in the Catalan giant’s squad.

Inter boss Antonio Conte is using his knowledge of the Premier League to strengthen his squad since his summer switch to the Nerazzurri. He has already brought in Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Victor Moses in from the Premier League, while also being linked with a move for Chelsea’s veteran French striker Olivier Giroud.

It seems do Eriksen is also on Conte’s Premier League wanted list. The Italian coach could well develop the midfielder, so a move to Milan may well be a better move than to Barcelona this month.

Tottenham face a tricky task against Southampton

For the time being, Eriksen is still a Tottenham play. The midfielder and his teammates Southampton on Saturday afternoon in the FA Cup fourth round. The team from north London are favourites to win at odds of 7/5.

Eriksen has only been a substitute in Tottenham last two Premier League games, coming off the bench for cameo appearances. Every time he makes an appearance for Spurs, there is the question of whether it will be his last game for the club.

The Denmark international has been consistently linked with a move away from the north London club since the summer. Whether he will move on in January or not only time will tell. However, he seems to closer than ever to leaving the club, with just six months now left on his Tottenham contract.

Who will win the race to sign Christian Eriksen this summer?