Mauricio Pochettino says that Saturday is D-Day for Christian Eriksen’s Tottenham future. The manager is nervous that one of Eriksen’s suitors on mainland Europe will make a move for him before Monday’s deadline and, if it comes today, it could be problematic for Spurs. On the other hand, if the day passes without development, Pochettino would be confident that Eriksen will remain at the club – if only for this season, the final one on his contract.

Eriksen has said he is open to a new challenge and is believed to have his heart set on a move to Spain – to either Real Madrid or Barcelona. It is unclear whether either club will make a play for him. Paris Saint-Germain have been credited with an interest in Eriksen if they were to lose Neymar to Barcelona but would he want to go to them? The midfielder has shown no inclination to sign a new contract at Spurs, who face Arsenal in Sunday’s derby at Emirates Stadium.

“The good thing is if nothing happens on Saturday,” Pochettino said. “Because Sunday’s the game and it’s not going to happen on Monday – there’d be no real time to do something. On Saturday we are going to know if Christian is going to be with us or not.”

Pochettino has started Eriksen in only one of Spurs’ first three matches, as the uncertainty over his future has swirled, and the manager was asked whether he would start him against Arsenal.

“People will say: ‘Why are you playing Christian?’ The teammates can say: ‘Why are you playing Christian if the rumour is he’s going to leave? Gaffer, why am I not playing when Christian is looking to go away?’” Pochettino said. “In this situation there are plenty of things that happen inside that I cannot translate to the media and our fans. The most important is to trust in our judgment. If people have the information to make this decision, it’s us.”