Antonio Conte planning surprise Christian Eriksen transfer swoop for emotional Tottenham return BEFORE Brentford debut
ANTONIO CONTE is planning a dream reunion for Christian Eriksen and Tottenham.
Spurs’ Italian manager has already met with the White Hart Lane legend and is hopeful a surprise deal can be done to bring the highly-regarded star 'home'.
Midfielder Eriksen has a six-month contract with Brentford and is training again just seven months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch while playing for Denmark.
He is best known for his seven years at Tottenham before winning the Italian league under Conte with Inter Milan last year.
Conte said: “Honestly, I was surprised about the situation because in my mind, honestly, I thought Christian needed more time before coming back to play in England.
“For sure, Eriksen is part of Tottenham's story. To come back here would be a good opportunity for him, for me, for the club.
“But now he's signed for Brentford, only six months, and we'll see what happens.
“I was lucky because I met him on Sunday and it was good to speak with him.
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“I saw him with his family and it was good. I'm the first person to be happy to see him again on the pitch because we spent a really good time at Inter Milan together.
“We won the league, we spent two important seasons together. I wish him all the best for the future. And you don't know what will happen. It would be good for me to have him again, to work together.”
Conte’s desire to bring Eriksen back to Tottenham will excite Spurs fans who believe their club has failed to replace the creative genius who was part of the bedrock of the team which flourished under Mauricio Pochettino.
Eriksen reached the Champions League final with Spurs in 2019 before heading to Italy.
He scored 69 goals and assisted a further 90 in 305 appearances for the Lilywhites.
He collapsed last June in Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 game against Finland - later admitting he had ‘died for five minutes’ before being revived by quick-thinking medics.
Eriksen is yet to play for Brentford after signing the short-term deal but says he always knew he would play again despite the harrowing incident.
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Conte says he bumped into his former player by chance last weekend and the chemistry between the two former colleagues is still there.
Conte said: “I met him in the same hotel that we were both staying in. We were lucky to meet each other, we didn't prepare the meeting.
"It was only a coincidence to see him with his family. But I repeat, it was great for me to see him with his family.”
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