Christian Eriksen has emphasised the importance of keeping Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.

Pochettino came close to issuing Daniel Levy with an ultimatum after Sunday’s season finale against Leicester by calling for the chairman to “be brave, take risks and create a new idea” at Spurs.

The Argentine also refused, again, to commit to the club long term, insisting his future is out of his hands.

Chelsea’s interest in Pochettino has emerged and it comes ahead of the 46-year-old holding talks with Levy this week, when he will ask the chairman to release the financial shackles and waste no time in offloading popular trio Toby Alderweireld, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose.

He also wants this summer’s signings to be completed before the World Cup, which begins on June 14.

A number of key players — including Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli, Jan Vertonghen, Harry Kane and Eriksen — feel tied to Pochettino and they are reluctant to commit to the club until the Argentine’s future is confirmed.

Tottenham face a tense summer if Levy disagrees with the manager — a possibility acknowledged by Pochettino on Sunday — and Eriksen has stressed the need for continued stability.

“He’s really important,” Eriksen told Standard Sport. “You can see what he has achieved with this club.

In Pictures | Premier League 2017-18 final day | 13/05/2018 51 show all In Pictures | Premier League 2017-18 final day | 13/05/2018 1/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Mohamed Salah celebrates after breaking the Premier League goals in a season record. REUTERS 2/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool's defender Dejan Lovren celebrates after scoring their second goal. AFP/Getty Images 3/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal A banner honouring outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger being pulled by a plane. PA 4/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea fans display a banner in protest against the bored as they were relegated to the Championship. Action Images via Reuters 5/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt walks out with children. REUTERS 6/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. REUTERS 7/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea City's English midfielder Leon Britton waves as he plays his final match. AFP/Getty Images 8/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle fans unveil a banner before the Premier League match. Getty Images 9/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 10/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Antonio Conte reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park REUTERS 11/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Olivier Giroud reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park. PA 12/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United fans display a banner for Sir Alex Ferguson, who continues his recovery from a brain haemorrhage. AFP/Getty Images 13/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham and England player Paul Gascoigne performs for the fans on the pitch at half time. AFP/Getty Images 14/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their second goal. REUTERS 15/51 Burnley vs Bournemouth Burnley's Chris Wood celebrates with Matthew Lowton after scoring their first goal. Action Images via Reuters 16/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal looks dejected during their defeat to Stoke. Getty Images 17/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Wilfried Zaha scores Palace's first goal at Selhurst Park. PA 18/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Erik Lamela celebrates after Tottenham score their third goal against Leicester. PA 19/51 Manchester United vs Watford Jose Mourinho and Michael Carrick share a laugh on the touchline. REUTERS 20/51 West Ham vs Everton Manuel Lanzini scores West Ham's third goal. CameraSport via Getty Images 21/51 West Ham vs Everton Marko Arnautovic celebrates after scoring West Ham's second goal. Getty Images 22/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Stoke City's Peter Crouch celebrates with Lasse Sorensen and Xherdan Shaqiri after scoring their winning goal. Action Images via Reuters 23/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick poses with his children on the pitch at Old Trafford. PA 24/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick waves goodbye to the Old Trafford. PA 25/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Gabriel Jesus celebrates his winning goal that sealed City's record 100th point. Getty Images 26/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Dwight Gayle puts Newcastle ahead. REUTERS 27/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham player Paul Gascoigne is cheered by the fans at half time. REUTERS 28/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park. REUTERS 29/51 Manchester United vs Watford Marcus Rashford puts Manchester United ahead. REUTERS 30/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Stoke's Papa Ndiaye celebrates with Peter Crouch after scoring their first goal. REUTERS 31/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool celebrate Mohamed Salah's opener. REUTERS 32/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane holds his head with Tottenham trailing against Leicester. AFP/Getty Images 33/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Dejan Lovren in action with Brighton's Beram Kayal. REUTERS 34/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey in action with Huddersfield Town's Jonathan Hogg. REUTERS 35/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Mike van der Hoorn (left) and Stoke City's Darren Fletcher battle for possession. PA 36/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane equalises for Tottenham Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images 37/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring his side's first goal. PA 38/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna in action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye, Action Images via Reuters 39/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's James McArthur in action with West Bromwich Albion's James McClean. REUTERS 40/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Southampton's Oriol Romeu (left) and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling battle for the ball. PA 41/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out onto the pitch before kick-off. EPA 42/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United's Ashley Young in action with Watford's Will Hughes. REUTERS 43/51 Liverpool vs Brighton One of the biggest Mo Salah fans you will find. Action Images via Reuters 44/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Huddersfield Town's German head coach David Wagner (L) shakes hands with Arsene Wenger before kick-off. AFP/Getty Images 45/51 Manchester United vs Watford REUTERS 46/51 Southampton vs Manchester City PA 47/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is welcomed to Selhurst Park on what is his final match as a BBC commentator. REUTERS 48/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is pictured on the front of the matchday programme. PA 49/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham fans gather outside the London Stadium before kick-off. REUTERS 50/51 West Ham vs Everton A young fan sits in the West Ham dugout before kick-off. REUTERS 51/51 Manchester United vs Watford Fans gather outside Old Trafford before kick-off. PA 1/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Mohamed Salah celebrates after breaking the Premier League goals in a season record. REUTERS 2/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool's defender Dejan Lovren celebrates after scoring their second goal. AFP/Getty Images 3/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal A banner honouring outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger being pulled by a plane. PA 4/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea fans display a banner in protest against the bored as they were relegated to the Championship. Action Images via Reuters 5/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt walks out with children. REUTERS 6/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. REUTERS 7/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea City's English midfielder Leon Britton waves as he plays his final match. AFP/Getty Images 8/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle fans unveil a banner before the Premier League match. Getty Images 9/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 10/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Antonio Conte reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park REUTERS 11/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Olivier Giroud reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park. PA 12/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United fans display a banner for Sir Alex Ferguson, who continues his recovery from a brain haemorrhage. AFP/Getty Images 13/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham and England player Paul Gascoigne performs for the fans on the pitch at half time. AFP/Getty Images 14/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their second goal. REUTERS 15/51 Burnley vs Bournemouth Burnley's Chris Wood celebrates with Matthew Lowton after scoring their first goal. Action Images via Reuters 16/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal looks dejected during their defeat to Stoke. Getty Images 17/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Wilfried Zaha scores Palace's first goal at Selhurst Park. PA 18/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Erik Lamela celebrates after Tottenham score their third goal against Leicester. PA 19/51 Manchester United vs Watford Jose Mourinho and Michael Carrick share a laugh on the touchline. REUTERS 20/51 West Ham vs Everton Manuel Lanzini scores West Ham's third goal. CameraSport via Getty Images 21/51 West Ham vs Everton Marko Arnautovic celebrates after scoring West Ham's second goal. Getty Images 22/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Stoke City's Peter Crouch celebrates with Lasse Sorensen and Xherdan Shaqiri after scoring their winning goal. Action Images via Reuters 23/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick poses with his children on the pitch at Old Trafford. PA 24/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick waves goodbye to the Old Trafford. PA 25/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Gabriel Jesus celebrates his winning goal that sealed City's record 100th point. Getty Images 26/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Dwight Gayle puts Newcastle ahead. REUTERS 27/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham player Paul Gascoigne is cheered by the fans at half time. REUTERS 28/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park. REUTERS 29/51 Manchester United vs Watford Marcus Rashford puts Manchester United ahead. REUTERS 30/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Stoke's Papa Ndiaye celebrates with Peter Crouch after scoring their first goal. REUTERS 31/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool celebrate Mohamed Salah's opener. REUTERS 32/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane holds his head with Tottenham trailing against Leicester. AFP/Getty Images 33/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Dejan Lovren in action with Brighton's Beram Kayal. REUTERS 34/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey in action with Huddersfield Town's Jonathan Hogg. REUTERS 35/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Mike van der Hoorn (left) and Stoke City's Darren Fletcher battle for possession. PA 36/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane equalises for Tottenham Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images 37/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring his side's first goal. PA 38/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna in action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye, Action Images via Reuters 39/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's James McArthur in action with West Bromwich Albion's James McClean. REUTERS 40/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Southampton's Oriol Romeu (left) and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling battle for the ball. PA 41/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out onto the pitch before kick-off. EPA 42/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United's Ashley Young in action with Watford's Will Hughes. REUTERS 43/51 Liverpool vs Brighton One of the biggest Mo Salah fans you will find. Action Images via Reuters 44/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Huddersfield Town's German head coach David Wagner (L) shakes hands with Arsene Wenger before kick-off. AFP/Getty Images 45/51 Manchester United vs Watford REUTERS 46/51 Southampton vs Manchester City PA 47/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is welcomed to Selhurst Park on what is his final match as a BBC commentator. REUTERS 48/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is pictured on the front of the matchday programme. PA 49/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham fans gather outside the London Stadium before kick-off. REUTERS 50/51 West Ham vs Everton A young fan sits in the West Ham dugout before kick-off. REUTERS 51/51 Manchester United vs Watford Fans gather outside Old Trafford before kick-off. PA

“When I arrived [in summer 2013], there was a season with a lot of ups and downs at first but ever since [Pochettino joined a year later] it’s really been very stable — finishing in the top three is a big achievement for the manager.

“He can have a big pat on his shoulders for the people around him and for him. He’s pushed us and the players in the right direction.

“We’re going into every game and winning games with the right mentality with exciting football. The fans in particular, I hope, enjoy how we play.

“I enjoy how we play under the manager. I think the style of play is something that suits me and the players we have. Generally, you’re going into every game with excitement.

“You know you’re going to play forward and not going to defend. You’re going to try to create and score goals. Everybody who follows the Premier League knows we have been consistent with the points we’ve got. Finishing three times in the top three means a lot and it’s a big achievement compared to where the club were six years ago.”

Eriksen, 26, added that he had not been concerned by Pochettino’s recent comments, insisting: “He showed he’s a Spurs man.”

Pochettino has guided Spurs to three consecutive top-three finishes but their progress continues to be weighed against their lack of silverware since 2008, particularly after they squandered leads in the Champions League last 16 to Juventus and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

“We’ve been very stable,” Eriksen said. “People should look at the stabilisation of the team and our achievements in the Premier League. The next step is, of course, to finish the semis and try to get through [to a final]. I think if we do what we did against all the teams in the Champions League again, we have a chance of going even further.

“I think we’ve shown in the Champions League we have something we can take with us. We’re over the hill, we tried it. Now we want to win something, we want to go further. Mentally that’s a big step we need to go forward.”

Eriksen was named in the PFA Team of the Year after finishing with 10 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League, having notched eight and 15, respectively, in the previous campaign.

He added: “I think personally it’s been one of my better seasons, defintely. I’m trying to control the game a bit more, be a bit more involved. In that way, it has been good.

“I would say it’s not that big a difference compared to last season if you look at the stats. I want to be involved as much as possible but if it’s assists or goals, I’ll take it.”