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‘It does have an effect’ - Paul Robinson reveals Christian Eriksen worry for Tottenham
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson urges Spurs to sell wantaway midfielder Christian Eriksen
Tottenham must get rid of Christian Eriksen if he refuses to sign a new contract, former Spurs stopper Paul Robinson believes.
The former Ajax midfielder’s existing deal expires next summer and he’s already expressed his desire to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Eriksen was the subject of interest from Manchester United days before the Premier League transfer window closed, though Red Devils chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quickly ended his pursuit of the Denmark international.
Real Madrid are still interested in signing the 27-year-old - who they view as an alternative option to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba - and could swoop for him before the European transfer window closes on September 2.
Tottenham’s attempts to persuade Eriksen to stay have so far failed to bear fruit, which has led Robinson to believe his old side should cash in on the Denmark international as soon as possible.
"I'd be surprised if they do keep hold of him due to the fact that he still hasn't signed his contract that he has been offered," Robinson said during an appearance on Sky Sports News.
"He's made noises that he is ready for a new challenge. He's been at the club now for six years now and the fact that he hasn't signed a new contract going into his final year - I think it does have an effect on the team.
"I think it does have an effect on the players around him and I think genuinely if he did want to stay and his heart was there he would have signed it by now.
I think it does have an effect on the players around him and I think genuinely if he did want to stay and his heart was there he would have signed it by now
"The chairman has obviously put a price tag on his head [and] they have to get value for money.
"If he's not going to sign a contract then they have to cash in."
Should Eriksen end up staying in north London, Robinson believes Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will have a hard time motivating the midfielder.
He added: "The problem you have got is that the player clearly wants a new challenge, and if the window closes and he's still at your club, you have then got to motivate that player until his new challenge arrives either at the end of the season, or in January, or whenever that may be.
"As a manager, you've then got a player who didn't want to be around.
"So you've got to motivate that player and get him back on board and buy into what you are doing for the next 12 months."
Tottenham will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Newcastle to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.