Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that Christian Eriksen remains committed to Tottenham Hotspur despite the midfielder being linked with leaving the club in January.

Eriksen will be free to leave Spurs at the end of the 2019-20 campaign having failed to agree fresh contract terms with the North London club.

It is claimed that Real Madrid, who are looking for midfield reinforcements, moved to sign the Dane over the summer transfer window.

However, speaking on the subject of Eriksen's situation, Pochettino told Sky Sports News: "I don't think the performance of Christian is any different than when we signed him five-and-a-half years ago.

"His commitment is the same - sometimes we maybe look too much at whether a player has a one-year contract or a four-year contract.

"In the end it is about commitment - maybe players in the last year of their contract show more commitment than a player with four more years on their contract. But when you see Christian and you compare him to different seasons, he is the same player."

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is said to be open to the prospect of dispensing with Eriksen over January in order to avoid seeing him become a free agent in June.

Reports have suggested that Real Madrid - on the condition that Gareth Bale leaves - will launch a bid for Eriksen in the next window.