Spurs were an incisive attacking machine thanks to Eriksen but, as Arsenal’s influence grew, their dependency was evident

Bolt the door. Cut the phone line. Gum the Real Madrid email servers with a barrage of online phishing scams. If Daniel Levy really is the master of the dark arts of transfer window brinkmanship, Tottenham Hotspur’s chairman will surely have a few Monday morning plans for Christian Eriksen.

A helicopter trip to the Isle of Jura perhaps, or a long drive through the pine forest wastelands in a lead‑lined limousine.