Tottenham aim to pip Arsenal for potential Christian Eriksen replacement

Tottenham are chasing Jean Michael Seri

Officials at Tottenham don’t plan on letting Christian Eriksen leave Spurs anytime soon, but they’re already shopping for his potential replacement. Mauricio Pochettino and company see Jean Michael Seri as serious competition for the stylish Dane.

Reports from France claim that club officials have recently made contact with representatives for the Nice midfielder. This won’t be welcome news at Arsenal. The Gunners have already been discussing Seri with his agents for several weeks.

I’ll admit that I’m not convinced Seri is the perfect addition for Spurs. Ideally, I’d like to see the club invest big money in players who are more physically imposing than the 25-year-old Ivorian. He is a player who relies heavily on his finesse.

Tottenham have made initial contact with the entourage of Nice midfielder Jean Michaël Seri. #COYS
— Mohamed Bouhafsi (@mohamedbouhafsi) June 12, 2017

That description could also be applied to another key member of Pochettino’s squad. Eriksen isn’t anyone’s definition of a physical midfielder. Nonetheless, he serves an important role for Spurs. His ability to keep the ball ticking in the midfield is vital for the club’s success.

While Eriksen enjoyed a terrific 2016-17 campaign, the club isn’t blessed with a ton of competition for him. No matter where Eriksen lines up in the attacking midfield, his skill set is currently irreplaceable at Spurs. Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min and Erik Lamela can all take his spot in the lineup, but it costs the attack some passing ability and creativity.

Some Tottenham fans have accused Eriksen of coasting at times due to lack of options behind him. I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s obvious he can run hot and cold. Some of that inconsistency could be attributed to the amount of football he’s required to play and the miles he’s required to run.