Last week, Galatasaray made an attempt to secure the services of Christian Eriksen from Manchester United, but Erik ten Hag, the manager, refused to authorize the departure of the midfielder. Despite being a star player for Manchester United, Eriksen, at 31 years old, has seen a decrease in his playing time this season, with only nine starts in the Premier League so far. His absence due to injury in five matches provided an opportunity for 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo to step up and impress in the starting lineup, featuring in the Red Devils’ last seven Premier League matches.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims to transform Old Trafford into a hub for nurturing promising young talents like Mainoo, which could mean that players past their prime, such as Eriksen, might need to be let go. Ratcliffe plans to overhaul the squad in the summer, potentially leading to the departure of several high-profile players from Manchester United. However, despite Galatasaray’s interest and tempting offer, Ten Hag was not prepared to part ways with Eriksen just yet.
Galatasaray, along with Brentford, expressed interest in signing Eriksen. Although Galatasaray attempted to negotiate a deal last week, they couldn’t come to terms by the transfer deadline. Nevertheless, they have expressed their intention to pursue Eriksen again in the summer. Manchester United was open to offers for Eriksen, but Galatasaray’s proposed terms, a loan deal until the end of the season covering 80% of his wages, did not meet their requirements. As a result, the potential move has been postponed until the summer, and Galatasaray remains optimistic about securing his signature.
However, Manchester United prefers a permanent sale, leaving room for other clubs to enter the fray for Eriksen. Brentford, led by Thomas Frank, are ready to challenge Galatasaray for Eriksen’s signature, with the possibility of a reunion. Given that Eriksen’s contract with Manchester United expires in 2025, a loan deal at the end of this season seems unlikely, as he would become a free agent thereafter. Therefore, if Galatasaray wants to outmaneuver Brentford in securing Eriksen, they may need to revise the terms of their offer.