Whether Tottenham Hotspur like it or not, they find themselves beneath Real Madrid in the footballing hierarchy so the lure of a move to Los Blancos may well force Christian Eriksen away from north London in 2019. 

Daniel Levy's decision to part with £12.15 million for Eriksen's signature in 2013 remains one of his shrewdest decisions at Tottenham even by his standards. The midfield magician has blossomed into one of the most devastating playmakers in world football in five and a half years in north London, but at 26-years-old he is moving towards a crossroads which will define his career.

Long-range thunderbolts, incredible vision and quick-witted intricacy are qualities which have made him a star of the Premier League in recent years and subsequently an attractive proposition for Madrid. Perhaps Eriksen is lacking the zest and arrogance to fit the profile of a future galactico, but his sensational ability more than compensates for an apparent mismatch with the trend of Madrid's historic marquee signings.

According to a recent report from The Independent, Real Madrid are beginning to prepare what they hope will be a £100 million deal to sign Eriksen in the summer and they have already made contact with the appropriate parties in relation to the deal.

Intriguingly, though, Spurs may not have to accept a cash only deal, as the same report reveals that Isco could be used as a make-weight to force through a stunning transfer.

Now, in an ideal world, Eriksen would sign a lifetime contract extension at Tottenham and draw a line under the speculation, but the rumours linking him with Madrid are beginning to carry a strong weight of legitimacy.

The prospect of taking home £100 million for Eriksen just one year before his contract expires will naturally appeal to Levy, but if Isco is open to a move to north London there is no question that a part-exchange swap deal would be his perfect solution to the conundrum he has been presented with.

Isco has fallen out of favour this season and it's no secret that relations between the 26-year-old and the club's hierarchy are fractured at best, so there has never been a better time for Spurs to prise him away from the Spanish capital.

A return of seven goals and seven assists from 30 La Liga appearances last season provides tangible evidence to suggest the playmaker has a decisive edge in the penalty-area, however, Isco's true quality is one which cannot be revealed through raw data alone.

Like Eriksen, Isco possesses a special ability to create something out of nothing in the final third, to bypass his opposite number in the blink of an eye, to make the extraordinary seem routine.

A straight swap deal for the two players would not leave Spurs feeling short-changed, regardless of their emotional attachment to Eriksen, and the fact Levy would presumably be in a position to demand cash  plus Isco is one which would prove too good to turn down for the notoriously financially-motivated chairman.

Spurs have been dealt an unfortunate hand with regards to Eriksen's future, but cashing in on the Denmark international next summer in a part-exchange deal involving Isco would represent the best possible solution Levy, Pochettino and Tottenham's fanbase could hope for under the circumstances.

Tottenham fans - thoughts on an Eriksen swap deal involving Isco? Let us know below!