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Real Madrid plan to offer Tottenham Dani Ceballos as part of a player-plus-cash deal for Christian Eriksen, and the Lilywhites would be foolish not to take it.

What’s the story?

According to The Sun, Real Madrid are set to bid £45m plus Ceballos to secure Eriksen’s services this summer.

The Danish international is expected to leave after admitting he wants a new challenge, and is on Zinedine Zidane’s shopping list.

Ceballos is currently on international duty with Spain’s Under-21 side, scoring in a 3-1 defeat to Italy last weekend.

The 22 year-old wants to leave the Bernabeu in search of more playing time, and he is tailor made to blossom under Mauricio Pochettino.

Should Spurs sell Kieran Trippier? Check out the for and against in the video below…

Shrewd investment

Financially, this deal makes a lot of sense for both sides. Real Madrid get a ready-made superstar who will add flair and end product to their midfield without breaking the bank after a busy start to their summer.

Tottenham get rid of a player who doesn’t want to be at the club, has just one year left on his contract and was poor for much of the season, all while making a huge profit on his £11.5m move from Ajax in 2013 and securing a potential replacement in the process.

Now, whether or not Ceballos can step in and “replace” Eriksen is impossible to know, but the young midfielder does have all the makings of a brilliant Pochettino midfielder.

Capable of playing on the flank, as a number ten or as an out-an-out central midfielder, the Spaniard completed 92% of his passes in all competitions this season, completing one key pass per game despite playing many of his minutes from the bench.

His creativity and versatility are matched by his ability on the ball too – he completed five dribbles and drew four fouls in Spain’s aforementioned defeat to Italy last weekend.

The final component needed from any Pochettino midfielder or attacker is a willingness to press and defend from the front, and Whoscored list both Ceballos’ tackling and his defensive contribution as “strong”.

Able to play in several positions, offering skill, flair and creativity, all with the work rate to meet Pochettino’s demands, Ceballos could become an excellent player in north London, and securing his services while quadrupling their money on Eriksen would be clever business from Daniel Levy and the club.