Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has said that star midfielder Christian Eriksen‘s poor form is due to ongoing transfer speculation over his future at the club.
Eriksen, whose contract is set to expire in the summer, is only interested in moving to the two Spanish giants, Real Madrid or Barcelona, or, as a third choice, Juventus, sources previously told ESPN.
The Denmark international started in Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday before being substituted for winger Erik Lamela on 69 minutes.
“If you ask me if this is the best Christian Eriksen, I have to be honest and say no,” Mourinho said in a news conference on Monday. “I’m not an idiot, I’ve been in football for many years. A player who is in this position, it’s normal that a player in this situation doesn’t perform at the highest level.”
Eriksen made 17 assists and scored 10 goals in 51 games in all competitions last season but has has failed to replicate his form, with just three goals and three assists in 25 games this time out.
Sources in Italy said Inter Milan are also monitoring the situation.
Spurs face Middlesbrough in an FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday, with Mourinho saying that Eriksen is likely to start.