In a stunning turn of events, Manchester United’s star midfielder Christian Eriksen faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford.
With 21 appearances this season, the club has signaled that he is “100% done.” Consequently, his future at the club appears bleak as wage concerns and tactical shifts take center stage.
Eriksen has featured 21 times for Manchester United this season and 93 times overall since joining on a free transfer during Erik ten Hag’s first season. Moreover, he contributed four goals and provided four assists this campaign. However, he has only started twice since the turn of the year.
His contract expires at the end of the season, and Old Trafford officials have already decided against renewal. Furthermore, he earns an eye-watering £150,000 a week. Notably, new manager Ruben Amorim finds it challenging to fit the 140-times Denmark legend into his high-intensity 3-4-2-1 system.
Eriksen was widely expected to secure an overseas move and extend his career into a remarkable 19th season. After surviving a cardiac arrest in June 2021 during Euro 2020, his return was nothing short of inspirational. Nevertheless, the latest developments now cast a shadow over his future in football.
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Former midfielder Thomas Gravesen has voiced strong opinions on Eriksen’s predicament. He stated, “It is 100% over for Christian Eriksen at Manchester United this summer, and I also fear that his career is over.” Moreover, Gravesen questioned where Eriksen could earn DKK 60m a year, comparing his situation to Simon Kjaer’s abrupt departure after leaving AC Milan.
Gravesen further argued that Eriksen has shown signs of decline in recent years. He suggested that it would be a waste of his talents if he were to continue at a lower level. Consequently, many fear that the Danish maestro, who will soon turn 33, might be forced to retire.
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains determined to cut down on Old Trafford’s extravagant wage bill. Previously, the club offloaded Raphael Varane (£375,000 a week), Anthony Martial (£250,000), and Jadon Sancho (£220,000) in the summer. Later, Marcus Rashford (£325,000) and Antony (£200,000) also left, and now Casemiro (£375,000) and Eriksen are next on the hit list—saving the club approximately £1.9m a week or £98.5m a year. Additionally, Tom Heaton, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans are expected to leave on free transfers.
On the transfer front, Manchester United have been linked with acquiring world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak for a modest fee of £25–30m. Despite his hefty release clause of €103m, the deal appears within reach. In parallel, Ratcliffe has shown interest in Harry Kane after his release clause dropped to £54m, and there is buzz around midfielder Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace as well as Athletic Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet.
