Manchester United player 'free' to leave after entering final year of contract

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has been told he is ‘free’ to find a new club, according to Football Insider. The report suggests the player is not part of their long-term plans and is allowed to head out the exit door before the end of the transfer window.

The Red Devils have made the Denmark international available for transfer between now and the deadline, they claim. He has been on the books at Old Trafford since making the move to the North West back in 2022. Eriksen, who is 32-years-old, has since made 72 appearances for United in all competitions and has chipped in with three goals. He helped them win the FA Cup last season after they beat rivals Manchester City in the final at Wembley.

His contract with the Red Devils expires next year meaning they risk losing him for free in June 2025 if they don’t cash in on him now or in January, assuming he isn’t handed an unlikely extension. Although he injects bags of experience into Erik ten Hag’s ranks, he will be on big wages so letting him go would free up space and funds to pave the way for potential new arrivals in his position.

The Ajax academy graduate moved over to England back in 2013 when Tottenham Hotspur came calling. He became a key player for the London outfit and spent seven years there, scoring 69 goals in 305 games in all competitions before a switch to Inter Milan. Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 but inspirationally fought back to play professional football again. Brentford snapped him up in 2021 to help him get back up to speed before United landed him a couple of years ago.

He was part of Denmark’s squad at Euro 2024 and he scored against Slovenia in the group stage. Speaking after he found the net, he said: "This time at the Euros, my story is very different to last time. I felt confident going into the game and I was just happy to be playing. Playing in the Euros is always special. I had in mind that I've never scored at a Euros, but there was nothing but football on my mind. I was just happy to help the team with my goal."

United start the new 2024/25 season with a home clash against Fulham on Friday night and will be keen to start with a win in front of their own fans. They finished 8th in the table last term and will be aiming to do a lot better then that this time around.

The Red Devils head into their match against the Whites on the back of their Community Shield loss at Wembley to City on penalties. Despite losing, that tie was a good chance for players to boost their fitness levels ahead of their return to league action. Eriksen was left on the bench last Saturday and it remains to be seen what Ten Hag decides to do with him against Fulham. The window shuts on Friday 30th August.