The first transfer window under Ineos control at Manchester United looks all the more impressive when you consider the problems they inherited when loosening the Glazer’s vice-like grip.
The Premier League giants have secured four first team signings – with a fifth on the way in Paris Saint-Germain misfit Manuel Ugarte – despite those well-publicised Financial Fair Play issues.
Perhaps even more impressively, the new Manchester United bosses have succeeded in removing a number of high-earning or seldom-seen players from the wage bill.
Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have been sold, while the departures of Willy Kambwala and Mason Greenwood also worked wonders from a Profit and Sustainability viewpoint.
Scott McTominay will be the latest to say his goodbyes, moving to Napoli in a deal worth around £25 million.
According to Fabrizio Romano, McTominay has given his proposed move to Italy the green light. There is still an agreement to be made with regards to the Scotland international’s pay off but, like with Wan-Bissaka’s switch to West Ham, that is a pothole in the road which should be overcome.
Manchester United could sell Christian Eriksen
It speaks volumes about Man United’s dreadful squad building in recent years that, despite the exits of Van de Beek, Wan-Bissaka, Greenwood and McTominay as well as Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, there remains a host of other players the Red Devils would ideally like to move on before the September deadline.
Victor Lindelof remains. As do Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
For Casemiro, that much-discussed switch to Saudi Arabia has simply not materialised. Eriksen, meanwhile, has not even got off the bench in any of Man United’s three games during 2024/25 with Ugarte’s imminent arrival pushing the veteran Dane even further down Erik ten Hag’s pecking order.
Eriksen has been linked tentatively with a return to Ajax. Anderlecht have also been mentioned.
Head coach Brian Riemer opened up on his admiration for Eriksen back in July too, having worked with the former Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker during his time on Brentford’s coaching staff.
Speculation with the Belgian giants has dissipated since then, however. And Anderlecht CEO Jesper Fredberg has now confirmed that a deal to bring in a player who earns an eye-watering £150,000-a-week is likely to be beyond their reach.
Anderlecht and Ajax among the teams linked
“I myself have never mentioned the name Christian Eriksen, but of course I know Christian. He is a top player who is still contracted for one year at a top club,” Fredberg tells Het Nieuwsblad of the 32-year-old, due to become a free-agent in 2025.
“At the moment, (signing Eriksen) doesn’t seem realistic. But if a door suddenly opens, I want to be the first to step in.”
According to CaughtOffside, the Red Devils will look for around £4.2 million. But even if Anderlecht were happy to pay such a fee, there is the wage issue to consider.
“It’s not just about what Manchester United is asking for,” explains Fredberg, “But it will also be about the player’s salary demands in such a case.”
Eriksen has made no secret of his frustration at a lack of game time in recent months, though he can understand why the emergence of one Kobbie Mainoo has handed him a back-seat role.
“Kobbie is doing well, and the rest of the midfield is also doing well. So there is a battle for places, which is to be expected when you play in a top club. There is great competition in the team,” Eriksen told Tipsbladet in April.
“Of course, you can be worried in the long run, because I want to play as much as possible. Of course, you don’t want to sit on the bench all the time.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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