Tottenham: Mourinho: "I know about Eriksen's future, but I'm not going to say"
Christian Eriksen's contract will expire in June and José Mourinho says he knows the decision that the Danish midfielder has taken: "It has to come from him".
Christian Eriksen's future remains up in the air but the arrival of José Mourinho at Tottenham may have convinced the Danish midfielder that the best option for him is to renew terms with the club and stay where he is. Eriksen's contract at Spurs will expire at the end of the June and if nothing happens between now and then, he will be able to leave on a free transfer next summer. Something similar happened to Toby Alderweireld, whose contract was running down but he renewed after Mourinho took charge.
It's up to Eriksen to clarify his future, not me - Mourinho
Eriksen hasn't divulged anything about his future but Mourinho says he knows the score. "I think I know his future because his communication with me is completely open and honest and we trust each other," the coach explained with a wry smile before adding that it is not up to him to clear things up. "The only thing I can tell you is that I know his future but I am not going to be the one to speak about his future. It has to be him to speak about his future when he makes the decision to speak about his future, not me".
Mourinho went on to make it clear that he has no doubts about the player's commitment to the team: "My sensation is that Eriksen wants to help us - that's why I play him when we need someone with his qualities". Nevertheless, the Dane still doesn't command a regular place in the starting line-up. In the Premier League, in the seven matches which Mourinho has overseen, Eriksen hasn't started at all - but he has been an unused sub just twice and came on during the games against West Ham, Manchester United, Wolves, Chelsea and Brighton.
It's been a different story in the Champions League. In the Matchday 5 meeting with Olympiacos, Mourinho took the unusual step of taking Eric Dier off on the half hour when Spurs were 0-2 down. With Eriksen on in his place, Spurs fortunes were transformed - he set up a goal as the team bounced back to win 4-2. Maybe that performance coaxed Mou to include Eriksen in the next game against Bayern. The Germans had already qualified as group leaders but were the better team on the night and there was little Eriksen could do to stop a 3-1 defeat.
Eriksen turned down United
Eriksen has plenty of admirers. Real Madrid have been interested in recent months but there are not the only club eyeing his situation. According to The Mirror, Manchester United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is willing to offer Spurs 25 million euros for the player - a figure which might appeal to Daniel Levy, who knows he could lose the player in June without receiving any fee at all. However, the Mirror report that the player would prefer a move to Madrid over Manchester.
José Mourinho meanwhile, isn't giving up hope of hanging onto Eriksen: "The only thing I will say about Eriksen is that I would like him to sign a new contract. I think a player signs a contract when the club, the player, their family and the agent want it. If one of those parts doesn't want it to happen, it's difficult unless the player changes agent". Eriksen's team mates have made it clear that they would like him to stay on. "He makes a difference. We were on course to losing the game until he came on", Dele Alli said after the comeback against Olympiacos.