Krishnan Sreekumar
Transfer News: Brentford manager Thomas Frank admits he’d like Christian Eriksen to sign a new deal amid Manchester United interest
Speaking after his side’s 4-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League (h/t Daily Mail), Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted that he would like to keep midfielder Christian Eriksen beyond the summer, amid interest from Manchester United.
The Danish player signed a short-term contract with the Bees to stay with the club until the end of the season, as he looks to find his feet again and prove that he is still capable of playing at the highest level despite his cardiac arrest last summer.
Frank said that Eriksen, like any other footballer, will have to consider a lot of aspects before moving clubs but insisted that his midfielder was enjoying the moment and happy to be playing the game again.
“In any footballer’s decision to move clubs there are a lot of aspects. It will be the same for Christian. To be fair, I know Christian quite well and one thing he’s good at is just enjoying the moment. And I think he’s enjoying it even more.”
The 30-year-old star certainly does seem to be enjoying his football, managing to score against Chelsea to condemn Thomas Tuchel’s men to a home defeat. The result meant that the Bees climb above Newcastle in fourteenth place in the league table after the Magpies lost to Tottenham Hotspur last night.
“So let’s see what will happen”
Eriksen is available to move on a free at the end of the season if anyone can prise him away from Brentford, where he has quickly forged strong emotional bonds and where there is a considerable Danish identity. He also has picked up considerable interest from his former club Tottenham, with manager Antonio Conte keen on reuniting with his old Inter Milan colleague.
His fellow countryman and manager, Frank, said that he was aware that he would have to answer questions about the former Spurs star’s future at the end of the season, but for the moment, he was very pleased about the Denmark international playing for them.
“I’m just very pleased he’s playing for us. It’s no secret that I want him to continue next season. I know Christian is enjoying his football and really enjoying being back. I know I will have to answer these questions until the end of the season, so let’s see what will happen.”
It is no secret that United need attacking reinforcements in the summer, given how goals have come far and few at Old Trafford this term. Despite boasting names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, and Marcus Rashford in the squad, these players have struggled to consistently find the back of the net.
Bruno Fernandes is the first choice attacking midfielder in our midst, and he too has seen his performance levels drop this campaign. Perhaps it may be because we heavily rely on the Portugal international, with the star hardly getting a rest. In Eriksen, we could sign someone that can both support and compete with Fernandes for a starting spot in the team from next season.
More Manchester United News
- Transfer News: Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes had interest from Barcelona prior to signing new contract
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- Manchester United held talks over the transfer of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland earlier in the season
While Brentford will hope that loyalty and the Dane’s appreciation for the opportunity will keep him in London beyond the summer, perhaps Eriksen’s natural urge and ambition to test himself at a higher level could see him depart at the end of the campaign. That, however, is something that cannot be said for certain and is only a possible theory.
The Theatre of Dreams is also set to lose other attacking midfielders as Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are expected to leave for free when their contracts expire in the summer. In such a situation, we could see the club rope in Eriksen to replace our outgoing free agents to balance out the squad – that too as a free agent considering his deal at the Brentford Community Stadium expires this summer.
