Why Barcelona Should Not Sign Christian Eriksen This Summer
Before failing to lift the La Liga title last season, Barcelona’s former manager Luis Enrique decided to quit the club at the end of the season and the Catalan giants have appointed Ernesto Valverde, the former Atletico Bilbao coach as their manager. The 53-year old Spanish manager has his own set of transfer targets and Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen is reportedly at the top of his wishlist.
Speaking to the Danish media Ekstra Bladet recently, Eriksen revealed that he cannot say no to an interest from the Spanish outfit. These statements have now fueled the rumours that the Catalan giants are ready to make a move for him this summer.
Barcelona are not expected to drop any of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi or Neymar to the bench next season and this will mean that they will have to spend on Eriksen as a backup for the front line.
As hard as it is for them to negotiate with Daniel Levy, Barcelona will also have to give the Dane enough time to settle in at the club, in a season where they need their backup players to be at the top of their game every time they are called upon.
Eriksen has been in sublime form in front of goal, picking up 12 goals and 23 assists in all competitions last campaign. He is an attacking player who loves to spend time in the final third and Barcelona might not be able to get the best out of him if they decide to use him as a part of the midfield three.
It will increase their creativity but will surely reduce the midfield’s ability to act as the first line of defence. To get Eriksen to play regularly, Valverde might have to shift his system, which honestly is not the best way to go at the Camp Nou.
His price is hardly an issue for Barcelona but how he will adjust to the needs of the squad is what makes him an unnecessary addition. At 25, he is a superstar in the making but with the likes of Rafinha, Ivan Rakitic, Arda Turan and Paco Alacacer already fighting for a place in the first team, adding Eriksen to the lot is not the smartest move.
They need a genuine star who can walk into the first team next season and keep the chemistry intact. They surely need additions if they are to steal back the La Liga trophy next season but Eriksen is not the right man to get them there.