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Jan Vertonghen hopeful Tottenham can keep Christian Eriksen amid Real Madrid interest

Jan Vertonghen's Belgium face Scotland in a Euro 2020 qualifier on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports Main Event.

Christian Eriksen
Image: Christian Eriksen has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen remains 'hopeful' that Christian Eriksen will stay at the club next season, despite being linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Eriksen has only one year left on his contract in north London and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid after he admitted he wishes to "try something new".

However, his Spurs team-mate Vertonghen believes that Eriksen, along with manager Mauricio Pochettino and Danny Rose, will remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season.

Ajax players Christian Eriksen, Enoh Eyong and Jan Vertonghen are among those celebrating the club's Eredivisie win in May 2012
Image: Eriksen and Vertonghen have been team-mates for nine seasons in total at both Tottenham and Ajax

Speaking ahead of Belgium's European Qualifier against Scotland, Vertonghen told Sky Sports News: "Obviously when the transfer window starts there are a lot rumours, but there were rumours last year and everyone stayed together, so I'm hopeful.

"Christian is a great player. I have known him since he was 16, played with him since he was 16 or 17 [at Ajax] and I hope he's with Tottenham next season. He's an exceptional player."

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Both Vertonghen and Eriksen were crucial players in Tottenham's remarkable run to the Champions League final in Madrid but they struggled to make an impact on the night as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

Vertonghen prepares to face Liverpool's Andy Robertson for the first time since the final when Belgium face Scotland on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports, and he admits the loss was hard to take.

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Tottenham players celebrate after Lucas Moura's goal against Ajax put them through to the Champions League final
Image: Eriksen made 12 appearances for Spurs in the Champions League this season, scoring twice

"Obviously it was a big defeat. I wanted to win that game but only one team can win and at the end Liverpool played well.

"But I was happy I was able to come here [to play with Belgium] to switch off from that loss and focus on the national team.

"It's not about revenge but he [Robertson] played well in final, Liverpool did well. If you win the Champions League, you deserve to win."

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