Eriksen ready for Italian job
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN claimed he could not wait to join Inter Milan after finally sealing his £17m switch from Spurs.
His departure ended a long-running saga after the Dane asked to leave last summer.
Spurs immediately turned Giovani Lo Celso’s loan from Real Betis permanent, signing the midfielder for £27m, and are on the verge of bringing in PSV Eindhoven forward Steven Bergwijn for just over £25m.
But Eriksen, who initially refused to leave during the transfer window as his contract was set to expire in the summer, is looking forward to getting started with Inter.
The playmaker said: “I couldn’t wait to join. It’s wonderful to be here and I’m happy to be a new Inter player. I can’t wait to introduce myself to the fans.”
Eriksen was booed by Spurs supporters on his last few appearances as Inter dragged their heels over his transfer fee.
But the £17m deal plus add-ons represents good business, considering the 27-year-old was set to become a free agent in little over four months.
Part of the deal also includes the gate revenue from a friendly between Tottenham and Inter in the future.
Spurs moved to bring in Lo Celso for a discount fee now as his price would have risen at the end of the season.
Bergwijn should be next through the door, with the 22-year-old in London for a medical.
Spurs are still in the market for a striker, though they are only interested in a loan deal for Krzysztof Piatek, who is valued at £30m by AC Milan.
They have also been offered Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose but Jose Mourinho isn’t convinced.
The Spurs boss prefers Lyon hitman Moussa Dembele, who has long been on the club’s wish list, but there is an acceptance he will not be moving this month.
Tottenham are not currently pursuing Leicester’s Islam Slimani, who is also on Aston Villa’s radar and is desperate to cut his loan spell at Monaco short.
But they do hope to move out several players either on loan or permanent deals, including Victor Wanyama, Juan Foyth and Danny Rose.