Paul Merson: 'Christian Eriksen key to Tottenham Hotspur's top-four hopes'

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur will struggle to finish in the top four of the Premier League table if they sell Christian Eriksen.

With the Denmark international having less than a year remaining on his contract, Spurs are open to parting ways with one of their key men in the coming weeks.

However, after Eriksen's introduction against Aston Villa on Saturday evening proved pivotal, Merson feels that the North London outfit cannot afford to do without the 27-year-old.

Merson told The Debate on Sky Sports: "I'd go as far as to say that if he went before the transfer window shuts, I'd be surprised if they got into the top four. I watched them against Aston Villa and they'd run out of ideas. There was nothing really happening for them. Harry Kane wasn't getting any service as Villa kept things compact.

"Eriksen came on and it was a completely different last 25 minutes. He put the ball through the eye of a needle, he played little one-twos and he has vision. It was a strange one not starting him. You do not want to lose him before the window closes."

Juventus are allegedly keen to sign Eriksen on a free transfer at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.