United keen on signing Eriksen
UNITED are interested in signing Christian Eriksen on a free transfer as Erik ten Hag looks to reshape his midfield.
The Danish international is on the Reds’ radar after the departure of creative midfielders Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard this month left a void in the squad.
The 30-year-old is available after his short-term deal with Brentford came to an end.
Eriksen has impressed on his return to the Premier League and while the Bees are keen to retain his services, competition from United is likely to prove problematic.
Eriksen made his return to competitive football with Brentford in January, after suffering a cardiac arrest during last summer’s European Championship, and his performances have caught the eye in the second half of this season.
Ten Hag got a close-up view of his form and fitness at the turn of the year, when the Dane trained with former club Ajax in a bid to build up his fitness, and it’s felt he could offer a creative solution for United when they need their transfer budget to stretch as far as possible.
The Reds are prioritising a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, but talks with the La Liga giants are continuing to hit a stumbling block over a fee, with United adamant they won’t be held to ransom to solve the Catalan club’s financial problems for them.
Eriksen would be a much easier deal to do, given he is available for free, although at this stage it’s not clear if he could be signed as an alternative to De Jong or alongside the Netherlands international.
United are considering alternatives to the Dutch international should a compromise with Barca prove impossible and they have kept lines of communication open with other midfield targets.
The fiercest competition for Eriksen is likely to come from Tottenham, who have registered their interest in their former player. A return to Spurs would allow the player to remain in London, reunite with his former Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte and play in the Champions League next season.
Speaking recently, Eriksen mentioned a desire to play in Europe’s premier club competition.
“I have different offers and options, which we are considering, and then we make a decision,” he said. “I would love to play Champions League football again, but it isn’t essential for me.”