Manchester United 'join race for Christian Eriksen'

The 30-year-old made a remarkable recovery after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 last summer to return to the Premier League with the Bees after being fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Eriksen was forced to leave Inter Milan after being unable to continue in Serie A with the ICD, leading Brentford to strike a six-month deal for the former Tottenham Hotspur man in January.

Eriksen ended the 2021-22 season with one goal and four assists in 11 Premier League outings, and his future remains up in the air as he prepares to become a free agent at the end of the month.

However, Brentford manager Thomas Frank retains optimism that the club could sign the Denmark international on a permanent deal, telling reporters last month: "I know I am optimistic but I also picked up the phone and said, 'Hey, do you want to come to Brentford?

"No-one thought about that six months ago. I would love to say 100 per cent, but I am convinced there is a good chance he can wear the Brentford shirt.

"Either he signs with us and everyone is going to be happy and the fans will build a statue of him outside the stadium in two or three years' time, or he goes to a bigger level and fans will applaud him and we will all say, 'Thank you for this time, go forward."

Now, The Mirror claims that Man United have joined the long list of clubs hoping to sign Eriksen on a free transfer this summer, with Ten Hag identifying the playmaker as an ideal, low-cost signing.

The former Ajax boss welcomed Eriksen to Amsterdam for training sessions to help him build up his fitness after his lengthy layoff, and he is said to have been left "hugely impressed" by the midfielder.

The report adds that Brentford are willing to make Eriksen their highest-paid player ever to commit himself to a new deal, but the pull of European football may prove too tempting for the Dane as he looks ahead to the 2022 World Cup.

Everton and Tottenham have also been credited with an interest in Eriksen, who left the Lilywhites after a six-and-a-half year spell in January 2020 to sign for Antonio Conte's Inter Milan.

Spurs' qualification for the Champions League could provide them with the upper hand in the race for Eriksen, who scored 69 goals and provided 90 assists in 305 matches for the North London club.

Last month, Eriksen admitted that he was pining for a return to Europe's top tier competition, telling Viaplay: "I do not think that there are some football players who can just pick and choose between clubs, because there are many criteria that come into play. There are also many clubs that need to see one's path before that happens.

"I have different offers and options, which we are considering, and then we make a decision. I would love to play Champions League football again. I know how much fun it is, but it isn't essential for me."

Man United have already lost a total of four midfielders on free transfers, with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all moving onto pastures new alongside Lee Grant and Edinson Cavani.

The Red Devils are also believed to be close to agreeing a fee with Barcelona for the signature of Frenkie de Jong, who developed into one of Europe's top midfield prospects under Ten Hag at Ajax.