Former Denmark manager Morten Olsen has praised the progress of Christian Eriksen and believes the midfielder is ready to make the step up to either Barcelona or Real Madrid. The Tottenham Hotspur has been hugely influential for the Danes during the opening stages of the World Cup and he has already contributed towards both goals which they have scored the tournament.

As a result, there has been widespread praise over his showing and former Denmark head coach Olsen believes the 25-year-old is now capable of representing a club of Barcelona’s or Real Madrid’s calibre, he told Goal: “I think that he was in a very good school, at Ajax. But, the most important thing for the players is to play matches.

“And I think he chose very well by signing for Tottenham. They are always a club which plays good football. He is growing, and he is also better in the national team because every Sunday he is used to playing against the best and top players. He is already a top player, and he is ready for a team like Barcelona or Real Madrid. And, for the Danish national team, he is very important.”

Eriksen had been linked with a big-club move away from Tottenham for a while but the club’s hierarchy are not said to have any ambition of cashing in on his signature. The north London giants most-recently Harry Kane to a fresh six-year contract on wages of around £200,000-a-week and Eriksen may be the next in line for a similar deal after making a giant leap under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino.

Nevertheless, Eriksen’s current focus will be on the national team, who have the opportunity to progressing into the knockout stages of the World Cup. The Danes are currently on four points after two games played and they are in need of at least a draw against France to qualify, should Australia pick up a victory over Peru in the other game played.