Emil Forsberg Could Be the Man to Fill the Void Left by Christian Eriksen's Departure at Tottenham

Yes, it's only March, but the transfer rumour mill never dies, people. And one player who has been the subject of hot discussion over the past week or so has been RB Leipzig's Emil Forsberg. 

Amid Die Roten Bullen's mightily impressive season in Julian Nagelsmann's maiden campaign at the helm, the 28-year-old Swede has merely been another spoke in the wheel, despite an impressive start which had many believing he was set to reach the dizzy heights of his 2016/17 Bundesliga season under his new manager. 

Their debut campaign in the German top flight was truly magical for both club and player, as Forsberg guided Leipzig to a miraculous second-place finish after ending the season with a league-high 19 assists and eight goals. 

And despite his productivity dwindling exponentially until this season, the Sweden international has attracted plenty of interest after making it clear that he wants to leave the Red Bull Arena.

Just last week he told German news outlet Bild: "Things aren't going well. I don't have to prove myself anymore. I have a contract, but everyone knows that I dream of playing in another league.

"I have a big connection with the club, and we have good cooperation. But like any player, I dream of playing somewhere else at some point. I've always been attracted by Spain and Italy," Forsberg added. 

Despite his attraction to Serie A and La Liga, several Premier League clubs have taken notice of Forsberg's situation, with Everton, Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester and Manchester United all believed to be interested. 

And while the small fee attached to a potential deal (€20m) would represent astute business by any of the aforementioned sides, Jose Mourinho's Spurs would benefit most from Forsberg's talent and shouldn't hesitate in pursuing a deal for the Scandinavian playmaker in the summer. 

The last one worked out pretty well, eh. 

While Spurs have a worrying number of positions to take care of transfer-wise at the end of the campaign, a bona fide replacement for Christian Eriksen has to be somewhere of Mourinho's hefty list of priorities this summer. 

In Giovani Lo Celso they have a fantastic footballer; an all-action midfielder possessing that typical Argentine 'bite' and fine technical qualities, enabling him to almost carry this seemingly inept Spurs squad on his back at times during his recent purple patch. 

But for all his brilliance, Lo Celso doesn't behold the playmaking ability of the Dane, he's not someone to dictate the tempo of proceedings or slow things down amid chaos. 

In Forsberg, however, you have someone who can take on the role as the Lilywhites' creator-in-chief.

His seven goal contributions this season - with one coming every 113 minutes - has seen the 28-year-old put up his most productive campaign since that 2016/17 season. 

Throughout his career at Leipzig, Forsberg has operated as both an inverted winger on the left and the creative hub in the no.10 role. His knack of picking up intelligent positions in between the lines is impressive, while he boasts the ability to penetrate defensive lines with both delicately weighted through balls and mazy runs with the ball at his feet - making him unpredictable. 

Forsberg's fine ball-carrying skills has seen him complete 81% of his dribbles over the past three seasons, although, on average he only attempts 2.4 dribbles per 90 minutes.

His skillset and comfort at playing in a wider role make Forsberg an ideal fit for an inside forward position at Spurs in a 4-2-3-1. Ideally, he'd have a marauding left-back on the outside creating overloads while also having a plethora of passing lanes and angles infield to help the 28-year-old's playmaking nature come to the fore.

Another welcome attribute is the Swede's tenacity out of possession. Since 2017/18, Forsberg averages more than three possession regains in the middle third of the pitch (per 90) and more than one in the defensive third over the past three seasons. 

Being apart of pressing-based systems under Ralph Hasenhuttl, Ralf Rangnick and Nagelsmann at Leipzig, Forsberg could certainly help Spurs rediscover an intensity off the ball that we haven't seen since long before Mauricio Pochettino's departure.

Don't get me wrong, Forsberg is no superstar. There's a reason why the resurgent Christopher Nkunku and January signing Dani Olmo are above the Swede in Nagelsmann's pecking order to play the versatile, dynamic attacking midfield role just behind Timo Werner and Patrik Schick. 

The midfielder's played just 40.9% of Leipzig's total minutes in the Bundesliga this season - the lowest in his career despite battling injuries in the previous two seasons - and has failed to impress Nagelsmann when he's been deployed in some of his side's more significant fixtures over the past couple of months - getting hooked at half time in draws against both Borussia Dortmund and Monchengladbach after underwhelming displays. 

But while this isn't the same player that set the league alight four years ago, there are certainly still signs of Forsberg being able to compete at the highest level. 

Whether it be the last gasp brace against Benfica in the Champions League, the outstanding November display against Koln or the recent tidy finish to wrap up Leipzig's 5-0 win over Schalke, the creative juices are still potent within the Swede. 

His struggles with consistency mean you shouldn't be building your attack around Forsberg, but the 28-year-old is more than capable of playing a supporting role in an attacking force that, when fit and firing, is still one of the best in the division - don't let Lucas Moura's incompetence cloud your judgement.

For a mere €20m, Spurs would be getting a playmaker capable of somewhat filling the boots of the club's greatest creative mind of the modern era, a player determined to prove himself to his previous employers that he's still capable under the brightest lights.

Source : 90min