Since the start of last season, no midfielder has created more chances than Christian Eriksen for a top six side. In scoring and assisting, only David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne have him beat.

Yet Tottenham are in danger of losing the Dane, whose £70,000-a-week contract expires at the end of next season, because of a debate over what he is worth.

Harry Kane is on £200,000 a week after Spurs smashed their pay structure to tie him down until 2024. Dele Alli is on £150,000, also until 2024. Eriksen is equally as important.

Tottenham could lose Christian Eriksen with his contract expiring at the end of next season

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN WIN PERCENTAGE 2013-14: 55.6% 2014-15: 47.9% 2015-16: 48.9% 2016-17: 60,4% 2017-18: 59.6% 2018-19: 61.5% Advertisement

At 26 years old, he may not have even hit his prime yet. Barcelona and Real Madrid are among those keeping tabs on his situation, showing how highly he is rated by Europe's best.

Since August 2017, Eriksen has been involved in 22 goals (scoring 10, assisting 12) while taking home his £70,000 a week pay packet. Manchester United's Paul Pogba has been involved in the same (scoring nine, assisting 13) and is paid more than three times as much – £260,000.

Eriksen has also created 108 chances – a number matched only by De Bruyne, who is paid £280,000 per week. Below them is Mesut Ozil on 104 and he now earns £300,000 at Arsenal.

So Eriksen is in good company. Outside of Manchester City, he is possibly the Premier League's most stylish midfielder. He exploits space, he executes killer passes, he turns the tide.

Eriksen has created 108 chances – a number matched only by Man City's Kevin De Bruyne

Though Harry Kane leads the line and Dele Alli attracts attention, Eriksen has often been the silent creative spark at the centre of Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham team.

That is what these statistics demonstrate, and certainly they show how he regularly out-performs others who are paid ridiculously more than him.

On Saturday evening, Eriksen is expected to return to the starting line-up against Chelsea after time spent on the bench following an abdominal injury.

On the other side will be Eden Hazard, the Belgian being offered £300,000 a week by his club.

Below them is Mesut Ozil on 104, who earns £300,000, while Eriksen earns £70,000 a week

Eriksen does not receive the same level of adulation as Hazard, though his intelligence and influence on the ball is as important to Tottenham.

Against Chelsea last season, a 25-yard screamer saw Tottenham equalise before they went on to win 3-1, securing their first victory at Stamford Bridge in 28 years.

More of the same would go a long way to proving why he deserves a pay packet similar to that of Kane at Tottenham. Pochettino, though, likes it when his playmaker flies under the radar.

'He does not need to be recognised,' his manager said. 'He needs only to feel the love from us inside the club, and he does. Christian is a player that does not need too much feedback from the fans, the media and the people outside.'

Paul Pogba has been involved in same number of goals and is paid £260,000 a week at United

Yet he will walk on to the Wembley Stadium pitch with eyes on him, knowing supporters are concerned about what will happen next.

Eriksen is believed to want parity with Tottenham's top earners. Part of the problem is a European heavyweight, such as Barcelona, could offer him even more.

His club know he is a £60million-plus footballer on paper, if not more. As it stands, they face losing one of their prized possessions for nothing in the summer of 2020.

Eriksen's season has been disrupted by his post-World Cup problems but he has still shown himself as a formidable force in Pochettino's side. Worth every penny, some might say.