This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to The Sun, Tottenham have made James Maddison their main priority to replace the potentially outgoing Christian Eriksen.

What's the word?

Eriksen was the subject of intense transfer speculation over the course of the summer window, with reports suggesting Manchester United and Real Madrid were keen on luring him away from north London.

Despite a move failing to materialise before the end of the deadline, it still remains likely that the Denmark international makes his Spurs exit due to his contract situation.

Now, The Sun claim that if the play-maker leaves at the end of his contract in June, Mauricio Pochettino's side will target Leicester midfielder Maddison to replace the Dane.

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The report adds the Lilywhites will have to battle United to secure the 22-year-old's signature, and it is thought Leicester will demand up to £70m.

Shrewd business

If Spurs do end up losing Eriksen, but then manage to pull off the signing of Maddison, then that would go down as a major coup. And whisper it quietly, but it would represent a potential upgrade too. The former's performances this season have been so lacklustre, and a far cry from what we usually expect from the talented play-maker.

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His averages of 1.8 shots and 1.6 key passes in the Premier League this season is a significant drop-off to his numbers from the previous campaign, in which he managed 2.4 shots and 2.1 key passes respectively. Maddison, on the other hand, continues to improve week-by-week, and his manager Brendan Rodgers paid a glowing appraisal of his talents earlier in September.

"He’s got big potential. I think he’s going to improve in his game, the management of his game, but he’s a big talent and we’re just trying to prepare him in order for him to play at the highest level for as long as he can. He has to be consistent, (but is) a really humble boy, has a lovely swagger, a lovely arrogance, and he is a good kid who will get better."

And with Eriken looking like an empty shell and a complete shadow of his former self, a swoop for Maddison would give Spurs a number ten with a bit of magic again.