This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking on talkSPORT, Tony Cascarino has insisted Christian Eriksen isn’t worth a new Tottenham contract anymore.
What did he say?
The 90-cap Denmark international was the subject of intense transfer speculation over the course of the summer window, with reports intimating Manchester United were considering a late swoop.
However, a move failed to materialise before the end of the deadline, and recent claims have suggested Real Madrid are the playmaker’s preferred destination were he to leave Spurs.
Now, Cascarino has argued the north London side should think twice before throwing big-money at Eriksen in a bid to convince him to stay.
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He said: “A year or maybe 18 months ago, you would have paid Eriksen the sort of funds that would bring him up to the highest levels at Spurs and perhaps in the country.
“But I wouldn’t now. His performances last season were indifferent. This year, apart from coming on against Villa in the opening game of the season, he’s been poor and Tottenham have struggled. So I don’t see the big demand (to keep him) or the reasoning that ‘we give him what he wants’, no.”
Re-think
As Cascarino suggests, there would have been no question in previous seasons if Spurs simply offered whatever Eriksen demanded. Even last season, the Dane managed ten goals and a remarkable 17 assists in 51 games across all competitions. He has been at the heart of Tottenham’s attacking play, and quite rightly would have warranted a big-money contract.
But all the transfer talk this summer and the way in which it has affected him – he has just one goal and one assist this season – has raised big questions. Is he fully committed to the cause anymore? Are he and Tottenham on the same page in regards to what happens moving forward? Having said he’s interested in pursing a new challenge during the summer, it would seem not.
Whilst by no means has Eriksen just turned into an average Premier League player overnight, his poor form is leaving Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino with a fairly straight-forward decision to make. Cascarino’s advice stands firm.
