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Mounting injuries throughout the campaign and poor form of several big-name stars has forced Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to constantly rejig his playing XI from week to week.
Despite so many issues, the Dutchman has hardly turned to Christian Eriksen in midfield, despite the Dane being his go-to midfielder last season.
The 32-year-old had started 32 games last term and only 11 games this campaign with the former Tottenham Hotspur star playing a grand total of 135 minutes so far in 2024.
His last start came against his former club back in January and his last cameo came against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinal humdinger.
Eriksen has hardly featured this season
Since then, despite the player having a conversation with the manager and impressing on international duty, Ten Hag has not turned to the former Inter Milan man.
The former Ajax coach turned to loan signing Sofyan Amrabat against the Merseysiders on Sunday despite the Moroccan’s abject displays so far with Eriksen warming up on the sidelines.
The Denmark international is by far the best passer at the club but he has lost more than a yard of pace and he is not a fit for the manager’s chaos ball style.
It is clear that his future lies away from Manchester next season and lots of clubs are interested in signing the veteran including Brentford in the English top-flight as well as a number of Saudi Arabian clubs.
Murmurs of a return to Ajax have also been heard and Danish legend Brian Laudrup has suggested that Eriksen should leave Old Trafford and return to Amsterdam.
The pace of the league, his family’s well-being and the adulation of fans were some of the reasons cited by the Euro 1992 champion in an interview with Tipsbladet.
“When I look at the possibilities and where he has come from and where he can do fantastically well for a few more years, then in my world Ajax will be a fantastic place.
Return to Ajax
“I also know that Ajax have mentioned that they are interested. After his cardiac arrest, he was in Amsterdam rehabilitating. He knows the city, he knows the language and he knows the club. They will almost receive him as a king returning home.
“Then they might have a bit of an old boys midfield with Henderson and Eriksen in the midfield, but he wanted a somewhat easier league, where he wanted to help build a team up again. There will be many exciting things about returning to Amsterdam.”
The Eredivisie certainly has an easier pace and considering Eriksen’s legs have gone, a move makes sense from a footballing perspective.
The move also helps United as the player signed on a free two summers ago and his current market value stands at €10 million according to Transfermarkt.
His passing can unlock doors all across Europe and his signing could be a huge statement of intent from the Dutch giants after a disappointing current season.
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