Christian Eriksen could become a Neymar replacement

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen could soon be seen as a replacement for Neymar if the superstar leaves Barcelona this summer.

Depending on your views regarding the matter, Tottenham Hotspur have either had a calm summer or far too quiet of an offseason after finishing behind only champions Chelsea in the Premier League table. Spurs have acquired zero, count ’em, zero noteworthy players as of July 27. The club’s biggest transaction of July involved the sale of stellar right back and England international Kyle Walker to Manchester City.

As is often the case during this portion of the calendar year, the top transfer rumors of the past month or so have involved Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. As difficult as it may be to believe, there was a period of time in June when it seemed Cristiano Ronaldo was actually going to orchestra a move from Real. Those rumblings have since vanished into the wind as if they never arose to begin with, and it appears Ronaldo will again attempt to remain happy with the reigning holders of the Champions League trophy.

There does, however, appear to be some validity to the transfer whispers repeatedly linking Barcelona superstar Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain. Whether or not Neymar has agreed terms with PSG and/or if the French outfit would be willing to pay what is reportedly a massive release clause to obtain the services of the 25-year-old is anybody’s guess, but it’s not a stretch to suggest, at this point, there’s some fire causing all that smoke.

Say, for the sake of argument and this piece, Barcelona cash in on dealing Neymar to PSG. Such a decision could prove to affect Tottenham in August. Multiple Tottenham starters, including Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eriksen have been linked with the biggest clubs in the world, Barcelona included. Kane and Alli almost assuredly aren’t going anywhere before summer ends. Things may not be so cut and dry as it pertains to Eriksen’s future.

Unlike Kane and Alli, Eriksen didn’t rise through the ranks under current Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino. Granted, Eriksen has improved over the past couple of seasons, but he was already a special talent when he featured for former manager Andre Villas-Boas. Since that time, the 25-year-old has evolved into a footballer who, when fully fit and in form, is a brilliant playmaker who has the ability to save a match and points for his club in the blink of an eye.

As Jack Otway of the Express noted, Eriksen suggested in June a potential move to Barcelona could eventually intrigue him:

"“This is a hypothetical question, if it happens.“You can dream and hope the opportunity arises. But if it doesn’t, you can’t decide on it.“Everyone dreams of the opportunity to move to clubs. Whether it ends with a yes or no, you choose that.”"

The reasons behind why Eriksen would possibly leave Tottenham for the Camp Nou next month are easy enough to understand. Barcelona are one of the biggest and best clubs in the world and will contend to win multiple trophies between now and next June. Barca can and would pay Eriksen far more than he’d ever earn with Spurs. Both Luka Modric and Gareth Bale benefited from leaving White Hart Lane for sunny Spain earlier this decade.