"Levy will extract maximum value" from Madrid or Man United for Eriksen - Berbatov

Former Manchester United and Tottenham star Dimitar Berbatov has spoken about the future of Christian Eriksen and his possible exit from Spurs in an interview with Betfair.

Eriksen, 27, has been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United in recent months and recent reports in the UK claim that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, a notoriously tough negotiator, will look for around 150 million euros in exchange for the Danish midfielder.

Berbatov, who played for Spurs for two seasons between 2006 and 2008 and has first-hand experience of working with Levy, said that Madrid and United can expect hard dealings with the Spurs chairman should they look to sign Eriksen in the summer. But the 38-year-old also pointed out that the Dane may also opt to stay at the London club over a move to the Bernabéu or Old Trafford.

“How much might he go for? Who knows? If Real or United come for Christian then it is going to start questions in his head and if he does decide to go then we can be sure that Daniel Levy will extract maximum value from the Dane's sale,” said Berbatov.

“The Spurs chairman is a great businessman who knows exactly how to get the best possible deal. But maybe Eriksen will look around and say 'I have everything here now, the club is moving in the right direction, why not stay? And, of course, he might be choosing to stay with the side that has just won the 2018-19 Champions League!”

United must keep Paul Pogba - Berbatov

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Berbatov also came out in defence of Paul Pogba, who has received criticism for his perceived lack of commitment and lacklustre performances in the Champions League against Barcelona and in Manchester United’s recent Premier League fixtures.

Pogba is yet another big name that has been linked with a move to the Bernabéu in the summer and the player has done very little to quash speculation after stating in March that playing for Real Madrid “is a dream for anyone”.

However, United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who was reportedly angered by Pogba’s comments regarding Madrid – has said that he is confident that the French World Cup winner will stay at Old Trafford next season.

After having spoken with Solskjaer himself at United’s training ground last week, Berbatov said he is also hopeful the French midfielder will remain at Old Trafford, adding that it would be a major mistake for the Red Devils to let him go.

“One player people always talk about is Paul Pogba and the transfer rumours seem to swirl around him all season long. I hope that he will stay, because I like him as a player and as a person. I know that he is capable of much, much more and I know he wants to show that in every game and sometimes it doesn't work,” said the former Bulgarian international.

“Sometimes people criticise too much and it can get personal and not constructive at all. In the end, when that happens, it can push a player out. And when you have a club like Real Madrid, coached by a Frenchman, then I can see why Pogba might be asking questions. But the worst thing for United would be to let Pogba go and see him flourish at Real Madrid.”

Pogba most likely to face season without Champions League football at United

However convincing Pogba could become a much more difficult task should United not qualify for the Champions League next season, which, following their draw with Chelsea on Sunday, now looks like the most likely outcome.

Currently lying in sixth place and three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, United need to win their final two league games (Huddersfield, Cardiff), while hoping the Blues’ only pick up one point from a possible six in their final pair of fixtures against Watford and Leicester. Meanwhile, the Red Devils will also have to depend on fifth-placed Arsenal dropping points against Brighton and Burnley.