Man Utd's best midfielder could leave for free

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 Sep 2024 16:08 CDT
3 min read

Erik ten Hag, Man Utd, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Christian Eriksen has been the surprising star of Manchester United's season so far.

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The Danish midfielder has been given a new lease on life by Erik ten Hag this term. Eriksen has started all of Man Utd's last four games and has been an unexpected standout performer, keeping Casemiro out of the side in the Premier League after his horror showing against Liverpool.

Eriksen netted two goals and an assist in the Red Devils' big Carabao Cup win over Barnsley when he started as a more advanced midfielder and he opened the scoring for Man Utd in their Europa League opener against Twente Enschede in what was an emotional game for Ten Hag, a passionate supporter of the Dutch club.

The 32-year-old's goal against the Eredivisie side was brilliantly taken and hammered home the point that he has arguably been Man Utd's best option in midfield so far in this still-young season.

Man Utd's star to leave for nothing?

Eriksen's form now is a far cry from his disappointing start of the season. After deciding against leaving Man Utd in the summer, the Dane initially found himself on the bench and did not even feature in the club's opening two Premier League games.

Despite this, he was called up to the Danish national team and this decision was publically slammed by legend Thomas Gravesen. However, Eriksen has grasped the opportunity handed to him in the wake of Casemiro's Liverpool nightmare with both hands.

Yet, there is no certainty about his Man Utd future at this point. Eriksen is out of contract in the summer and had concrete interest from Turkey, the Netherlands and Spain in the past two transfer windows.

At the beginning of the season, it looked for all the world as though he would definitely be gone come the end of June 2025, but now? Eriksen is doing his best to convince Man Utd that he is still a very valuable asset even at 32.

While a contract extension still seems unlikely at this point given that INEOS want Man Utd to become younger, the Dane's exceptional form is hard to ignore.