With Manchester United planning for the future as well as the present, those fortunate enough to scape the Ineos axe appear to be on borrowed time.
With their contracts expiring in 2025, this is likely to be the final seasons at Old Trafford for Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen.
Manchester United have started their post-Casemiro succession planning too, with a catastrophic 45 minutes against Liverpool putting pay to any hopes that this could be something of a redemption season for the increasingly-maligned Brazilian veteran.
Casemiro continues to be linked with clubs in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Fellow midfielder Eriksen, meanwhile, recently turned down the chance to follow Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East or Fred to far east Europe.
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Christian Eriksen rejects Manchester United exit
Speaking to Voetbal International, Eriksen’s agent, Martin Schoots, explained that the Denmark captain was keen to fight for his place at Man United rather than wind down his career in Saudi Arabia, America or the Turkish Super Lig.
A prospective return to Ajax was also ruled out before the Dutch transfer window closed on September 2nd, much to the frustration of compatriot and Eredivisie starlet Anton Gaaei.
Anderlecht distanced themselves from Eriksen too. CEO Jesper Fredberg admitted that the former Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan playmaker would have had to accept a considerable pay cut in order to embark upon a switch to Belgium.
Fredberg did add, however, that if Eriksen was willing to budge on his salary demands, this is an opportunity Anderlecht would have seized with both hands.
But while some have praised Anderlecht for their ambition – the Brussells-based outfit succeeded in snapping up Belgium internationals Leander Dendoncker and Dennis Praet – former manager Johan Boskamp feels that Fredberg was flying far too close to the sun when pursuing a player who earns £150,000-a-week at Manchester United.
“I have serious questions about the transfer policy of some clubs. Anderlecht, for example,” Boskamp, who won three top-flight titles at Belgium’s most successful club in the 1990s, says in quotes reported by Voetbal 24.
“No idea what the intention is there, but I don’t recognise that club anymore.
“As if Eriksen ever wanted to go there!”
Denmark ace rejects Saudi Arabia and Turkey offers
Despite publicly acknowledging the frustration he felt over a lack of game time, Eriksen was in ‘no rush; to go anywhere when the window opened.
Perhaps the 32-year-old feels that he can work his way back into Erik ten Hag’s plans with opportunities likely to be forthcoming both in the domestic cups and in the revamped Europa League.
It is no coincidence, meanwhile, that Eriksen made his first appearance of the campaign against Liverpool after Mason Mount picked up another injury. One that pushes him that little bit higher up Ten Hag’s pecking order.
“I am really happy at United,” Eriksen told Sky Sports back in July. “I have had two very good years and am going into my third. It is a special club and a special place. Also, my family is settled in Manchester, so I am in no rush (to leave).
“Obviously, I want to play as much as possible and do everything I can. But that is nothing to do with the club – it is up to you and the manager.
“But in terms of how I feel, I feel very good at United. I still want to get on the pitch, obviously. I’m staying the same person if I’m playing or not, trying to help if I can.
“But I want to be the football guy, not the social guy.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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