Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison is not surprised that Christian Eriksen is thinking of leaving Tottenham this summer and has blasted him for his performances in the last few months.
Eriksen, who has been the subject of recent speculation over a move to Real Madrid, revealed on Wednesday that he is interested in finding a new challenge [Ekstra Bladet].
Speaking to talkSPORT’s Jim White programme, former Premier League striker Morrison said that the Danish international’s recent performances are a reflection of his wishes.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” the 40-year-old said. “Over the last, I’d say, couple of months Eriksen hasn’t been the Christian Eriksen he was probably a year ago.
“I think his head’s been turned, and I’m not saying you go onto the football pitch and you put in those kind of performances, but he hasn’t been playing to the high expectation that most Tottenham fans have seen of him a year ago.
“So that doesn’t surprise me. I think, looking at it, he doesn’t want to sign his new contract so maybe he wants to go to pastures new, and I think that’s why Tottenham were trying to sign Jack Grealish a few months ago – as a ready-made replacement for Christian Eriksen.
“It will be a big blow, but I’m sure that if Tottenham get a bit of money for him, will spend it wisely.”
OPINION
You would have to say that Morrison is spot on with his verdict here. If there was ever a game where it has looked like he has not been enjoying life in a Spurs shirt, it was the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday. We are so used to seeing Eriksen boss the midfield and link up with the attack thanks to his vision, but that was not there at all – Harry Kane did not get one chance in the game. When he did get a chance of his own, Eriksen blasted it over the bar from a position we have seen the 27-year-old score from before. As for the comments on Grealish, it is no secret that Tottenham have targeted the Aston Villa man in previous windows, and it is a pretty good prediction from Morrison. Perhaps Spurs have known about Eriksen’s feelings for a long while and have been trying to prepare themselves for a moment like this.