Why Real Madrid could sign Christian Eriksen from Tottenham for FREE

Eriksen, 27, has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu as manager Zinedine Zidane looks to overhaul his squad after a disappointing season.

They were thought to be lining up a bumper offer in the summer but The Sun claim they are now prepared to be patient by waiting until his contract runs out in 2020.

Boss Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to keep him and tie him down to a new deal, although talks are yet to be had.

After he scored a stunning winner in a 1-0 win over Brighton at the end of April, the Argentine revealed he is hoping to sit down with him at the end of the season.

“We are open to talk,” he said. “The end of the season is so close. We must focus on trying to achieve the things that we want.

“It’s a very special situation. Christian is a special person and we’re all different.

“Timing for him and the club and agreeing something are maybe different to other players.

“Christian and us are so close and it’s not long until the end of the season now and it’s about being focused on the end of the season.

“I hope and I wish Christian can be with us in the future.”

However, that is unlikely to deter Real Madrid who have been linked with a host of stars from the Premier League.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, 28, is understood to be their top target and the Belgian is expected to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the current campaign.

Paul Pogba, 26, is also unsettled at Manchester United and has made no secret of his desire to play for the Spanish giants, while Zidane has previously admitted to being a huge admirer of his fellow Frenchman.

“I know him personally,” Zidane said in March.

“He brings so much and there are few players who bring as much as he does.

“He’s a midfielder who knows how to defend and how to attack.

“But he is not my player, he is at Manchester.

“He has always said that, after Manchester, Madrid has always interested him.

“So when his experience at Manchester ends, why not come here to Madrid?”

source: express.co.uk