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London — Jose Mourinho said yesterday that Christian Eriksen will play in Tottenham’s FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough despite admitting that the Denmark star has been affected by talk of a move to Inter Milan.

Eriksen, whose Tottenham contract expires at the end of the season, has been well below his best for much of the campaign and was criticised by Spurs fans following his lacklustre display in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Reports have suggested Eriksen has agreed terms with Italian side Inter, but Mourinho seemed to rule out an imminent transfer when he said the 27-year-old will be involved in today’s third round replay due to the number of injuries in his squad.

“He plays tomorrow. After that I have a match on Saturday and he maybe plays on Saturday again. I cannot tell you much more than that,” Mourinho told reporters yesterday.

Eriksen, who has scored just two goals for Tottenham this season, was interpreted as saying farewell to the club when he handed his shirt to a fan and waved to the crowd after the Liverpool loss.

Even if no deal is done this week, he could still move before the transfer window shuts at the end of January or sign a pre-contract arrangement.

Asked if he had noticed a dip in Eriksen’s form, Mourinho conceded the playmaker hasn’t been able to tune out the background noise about transfers.

“If you ask me the reasons, I am not an idiot, I have been in football many years,” he said.

“A player in this situation, even if he wants — and I am not criticising him — it’s normal a player in this situation doesn’t perform in the highest level.

“But he is helping us in matches he has played for us. He’s had positive performances and contributions like against Olympiakos and Norwich.” — AFP.