ARSENAL could bring Christian Eriksen back to North London in a swap deal involving Granit Xhaka, according to reports.
Inter Milan are considering selling the Dane only a year after signing him from Tottenham.
Christian Eriksen is reportedly likely to leave Inter Milan in JanuaryCredit: Reuters
The idea of swapping the Dane for Granit Xhaka has been floated in ItalyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
According to Corriere dello Sport, Eriksen will be put up for sale in January unless he can pull of a considerable turnaround under coach Antonio Conte.
The pair have sparked a war of words in the media with the midfielder speaking of his disappointment at being left out the side.
The 28-year-old has started just 12 Serie A games for the club and is yet to register a goal or assist in 2020-21.
That has led to Inter reportedly seeking a good return on their £17million signing.
One idea that is said to be under consideration at the Giuseppe Meazza is a swap with Arsenal for Granit Xhaka.
Conte wants to bring a defensive midfielder to Milan but first-choice signing N’Golo Kante is not available from Chelsea.
Xhaka, 28, is seen as a good alternative and Inter may be able to convince the Swiss star to move given Thomas Partey’s increased prominence in the Gunners’ side.
No bid has been launched yet and Eriksen is still thought to have time to improve before Inter commit to a sale.
Tuesday’s Corriere dello Sport links Eriksen to the Gunners
Should the deal be completed, the ex-Spurs star will join a select group of players to turn out for both North London clubs – including Pat Jennings, Emmanuel Adebayor and Sol Campbell.
During the international break, he complained to Danish media that his move to Inter has been far from perfect.
He told TV2: “This isn’t what I dreamt of.
“All players want to play as much as possible, but the coach decides who gets to go on the pitch.
“It is a strange situation, as the fans want to see me playing more and so would I, but the coach has different ideas and as a player I have to respect that.”
He later added: “I don’t want to sit on the bench for the whole season. I hope this isn’t the coach’s or the club’s intention.”
Inter boss Conte has been unapologetic in rotating Eriksen in and out his side, with the playmaker only completing the full 90 minutes twice during his Serie A stay.
He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “All the choices I make are always and only for the good of Inter, not for that of the individual player.
“I am a hammer, but this is the only way to grow. Without a culture of victory, you can never get to success, but that comes through work and discipline.
“When I leave Inter one day, I hope in the distant future, I am sure of one thing: the Inter I will leave will be better than the one I found, from all points of view. That has always happened in every club I have been to.”
⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
