Tottenham: Manchester United attempted to sign star; blow in race for German; Windfall from new stadium

By John Arkless

After a solid but lacklustre start to the Premier League campaign, Tottenham Hotspur got back to their fluid best yesterday in a 4-0 victory at the Bet365 Stadium over Stoke City.

What was noticeable about the stunning win was the performance of Christian Eriksen, who was dictating everything from deep as Spurs destroyed the Potters on the counter attack.

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Eriksen had started the season poorly, but the signing of a new £75,000-per-week deal, ending speculation over his future, appears to have kick started his season, and on the basis of yesterday’s display, he will be a massive part of any success Tottenham have this season.

However, the Dane was linked with a move away over the summer transfer window as contract talks rumbled on, and it has been revealed that Manchester United were one of a number of clubs interested in taking the 24-year-old away from White Hart Lane.

Comments from Eriksen’s agent suggest that he was never really close to moving, insisting that the midfielder was happy at Spurs, looking forward to playing in the Champions League and excited to play at the new stadium the club are currently building.

It sounds as if Eriksen was never close to leaving the club, but it will be satisfying for fans to know that their man rejected the advances of Manchester United and all of their riches to stay and work with Spurs.

Although it looks Tottenham may have Eriksen back in form, they may struggle to secure the capture of another attacking midfield target any time soon, as Max Meyer has committed his immediate future to Schalke.

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Meyer, who impressed at the Olympics winning a silver medal for the German under-23s, was revealed as a target for Spurs on transfer deadline day. A £38 million deal was rumoured to be in the offing for the 20-year-old, but nothing came to pass and Tottenham signed Moussa Sissoko instead.

Any hopes of signing Meyer in the immediate future look as if they may be difficult for Spurs, after the German said that he would not leave the club through the back door and referred to the two years remaining on his contract. Whether he will depart if a big bid is received is unknown, but for now it appears that Meyer is off the market.

Finally, Spurs are set for a big cash windfall when their new stadium opens, with the club hoping to raise £100 million in sponsorship deals for the new ground.

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The 61,000 seat arena will be opened in time for the 2018-19 season, and Daniel Levy has already alerted 400 companies with the chance of becoming the title sponsor for the stadium. Alongside other deals, this could take the yearly sponsorship for the stadium to over £100 million.

Whilst the move shows ambition to add more revenue and make the club even bigger, most fans of the club would rather the stadium still be called White Hart Lane. The extra revenue, though, could provide the impetus to turn Spurs into a regular European giant and Champions League regular, if the money is spent wisely.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Rasit Odzemir