Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen will almost certainly leave the club at the end of the season. The 33-year-old has had difficulty adjusting to the high-intensity pace of the Premier League. However, Eriksen is undoubtedly the ideal candidate to enhance Manchester United‘s tactical approach in terms of pure playing quality.
The time has come to say goodbye
Eriksen joined Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. In the early stages, he was an important creative force in the team, adding agility and delicate passing to the Red Devils’ attacks. However, his prime is now behind him. As his physical strength and speed have declined, his influence on the field has gradually diminished, especially under head coach Ruben Amorim’s system.
In the recent match against Leicester City, Eriksen’s performance remained low. Although he remained composed when in possession, he made frequent passing errors, couldn’t keep up with the pace of the game, and struggled to deal with physical contact. When he was on the pitch, he could hardly win any key battles, was easily overwhelmed by his opponents, and made a high number of mistakes.
Although Amoalin was satisfied with the three points, he was clearly aware that United’s midfield needed new impetus. Once a top creative midfielder, Eriksen is now struggling to match the fierce competition in the Premier League.
Eriksen‘s contract expires at the end of the 2024/25 season. With United management lukewarm towards extending his contract, he is already looking for a new direction for his future.
Eriksen confirms departure this summer
During a national team training camp on March 18, Eriksen said in an interview, “I haven’t received any notice from the club, so I think our partnership is coming to an end. That’s my current understanding. My contract expires this summer and I am ready for a new challenge. I don’t know where my next destination will be, but I think it might be a better option.”
Well-known transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also confirmed: “There are no variables, Christian Eriksen will leave Manchester United as a free agent in July.”
Manchester United need to find the next Eriksen
This season, Eriksen played 27 games for Manchester United, mostly as a substitute. With his wealth of experience and excellent reading of the game, he can still contribute value to the team. However, the years have not spared him, and even though he is still eager to show his strength, his physical condition is no longer able to support him in continuing to perform at a high level in the Premier League.
Nevertheless, if we only look at his playing ability, Eriksen is still an ideal midfielder. He has excellent creativity, precise passing and a high level of tactical awareness. Although his style of play is simple, he can always make decisions faster than his opponents.
At the peak of his career, Eriksen was one of the best midfielders in Europe. His career has seen its ups and downs, from his emergence at Ajax to his heyday at Tottenham and a brief spell at Inter Milan. But a year at Brentford has put him back in the sights of the top flight, and he could end up at Manchester United in the summer of 2022.
At one time, Eriksen was even more creative than Bruno Fernandes. However, due to age and injuries, he has been unable to consistently produce high-level performances.
It is time for Manchester United to say goodbye to the Danish midfielder and plan for the future. But if Amorim wants to bring in a midfielder for the team who can enhance offensive creativity, then he should look for a player with Eriksen’s characteristics.
Manchester United’s young hope – Jack Mulholland
For many Manchester United fans, 19-year-old Jack Mulhouse may still be an unfamiliar name, as he has yet to make his first team debut. However, the young midfielder seems to have already attracted the attention of the new coaching staff. According to Daily Mail reporter Nathan Salt, Amorim was “impressed” by Mulhouse’s ball control and mobility.
Perhaps the future answer that Manchester United really needs is already waiting in their own youth training system.
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