Tottenham vs Brighton: Christian Eriksen to open talks over new contract after match-winning heroics
Mauricio Pochettino says Christian Eriksen is open to talks over a new contract after his heroics against Brighton boosted Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League top-four hopes.
Eriksen produced a moment of quality in the 88th minute to hand Spurs a 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which strengthens their grip on the Champions League places.
The Dane is out of contract at the end of next season and is currently stalling on a new deal, with Real Madrid one of a number of clubs interested in signing him.
Pochettino has revealed that Eriksen is open to discussing a new deal, but it will not be until the end of the season.
"I think I was clear a few months ago," Pochettino said. "It is a situation that is a very special situation, Christian is a special person, I think we are all special, different and we need to understand that.
"The timing for him or for the club to be agreeing something are maybe different to another player.
"I hope and I wish Christian can be with us in the future but I think Christian and us we are so open to talk and we will see what happens.
"I think it is so close to the end of the season, a lot of time to talk after and I think the most important thing now, not only for him, is for all the players to be focused and try to achieve the things we want.
"We have a lot of big things ahead and we need to be focused only to try and recover, train and compete."
Eriksen's decision whether to stay at the club or not may be influenced by how Spurs end their season, with a Champions League crown still in the offing, and they took a big step towards another season in Europe's premier club competition with a narrow victory over Brighton.
The Seagulls, fighting for their lives at the other end of the table, defended with 11 men behind the ball and it looked like Spurs were headed towards a first goalless draw in 68 games until Eriksen came to the rescue.
It was vital that Spurs capitalised on Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all dropping points over the Easter weekend and Pochettino knows his side are in pole position.
"We are in a position now that is in our hands to be in the top four," he added. "If we are capable of winning the next three games in the Premier League then we will be third.
"I think that is the key, thinking about ourselves and then seeing what's happening next to us of course."
