Christian Eriksen snubs Manchester United

Manchester United have been dealt with a major blow in their pursuit of free agent Christian Eriksen.

According to a report from The Guardian, Manchester United have been knocked back in their attempt to sign Christian Eriksen. The talented playmaker is a free agent this summer as his contract with Brentford is set to expire at the end of the month.

With the Dane available for free, he has become a sought-after commodity in the transfer market, especially following his excellent performances in the Premier League since the turn of the year. Brentford have shown the desire to keep hold of the player beyond the summer after he played a key role in the club’s road to safety.

Registering one goal and four assists, Eriksen offered a creative brilliance that helped Thomas Frank’s men steer clear of the danger of getting relegated from the Premier League. Apart from his creativity, he also offered vast experience at the highest level of football, which helped Brentford emerge as a stronger unit overall.

Eriksen’s performances had put Manchester United on red alert, especially with Erik ten Hag already managing him briefly at the start of the year, when the playmaker had trained with Ajax. Ten Hag is well aware of the Dane’s skillset and was looking to secure his services ahead of the coming season.

From a sporting perspective, Eriksen would have become an ideal replacement for Jesse Lingard, who has been linked with a move to West Ham, among many other top clubs in England. Manchester United have also bid goodbye to Juan Mata and Paul Pogba as well, thus accentuating the need for a creative midfielder.

However, Eriksen has reportedly rejected the offer from Manchester United, forcing the Red Devils to look elsewhere in their pursuit of a new playmaker. The report suggests the Danish international either wants to remain at Brentford or join his former club Tottenham Hotspur.

A return to north London appears to be the most likely outcome, as the 30-year-old playmaker shares a good relationship with Antonio Conte. The duo worked together at Inter Milan and with Spurs looking to offload Giovani Lo Celso in the summer, the acquisition of someone like Eriksen could prove to be a smart piece of investment, as far as Lilywhites are concerned.