On Tuesday, Manchester United fans had a great time at Old Trafford as the team pounded League One team Barnsley 7-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Christian Eriksen all scored two goals each, and Antony scored another from the penalty spot.
The Dane started against Southampton in the Premier League over the weekend, and he got the start again. This time, he played much further forward while Erik ten Hag gave Bruno Fernandes a much-needed break.
The 32-year-old did not disappoint; he set the pace of the game, threw passes all over the field, and finally got involved in the goalmouth action.
Eriksen’s next steps
There was a lot of talk about the player moving Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, and Ajax was mentioned as a possible destination.
But the midfielder clarified after the game that he stayed because he wasn’t asked to leave. The Denmark international is eager to give it his all this season after a poor season in which he didn’t get many minutes.
He has trouble getting used to the game’s speed against the big teams, so this is probably his last season in Manchester. His contract ends next summer.
United can’t let go of the former Inter Milan star in January to get a fee back, though, because Kobbie Mainoo needs to be carefully controlled in terms of minutes and Mason Mount is prone to injuries.
The Red Devils haven’t found good replacements for Scott McTominay and Sofyan Amrabat yet, so they need Eriksen to stay and provide cover.
Givemesport says that when he does leave Old Trafford, he will probably go back to the club where he got his start in adult football since Ajax couldn’t come up with the money to make a deal this summer. They will be very happy moving as a free agent.
This could be his last stop: Ajax.
“GMS sources say Eriksen is likely to use the rest of the season to decide his future instead of pushing for a winter move away from Manchester United. This will also make it impossible for his current team to get a feel for him when the transfer window reopens.”
“GMS sources say that Eriksen could end his career with Eredivisie giants Ajax after he leaves Manchester United. The idea of him returning to the Johan Cruyff Arena was talked about during the summer transfer window, but nothing solid happened before the deadline last month.”
As per GMS sources, Eriksen will likely talk to Ajax about a possible move in the early months of 2025. The outcome of those talks will determine whether a move to Amsterdam is a realistic choice for him to finish his wonderful career.
Ten Hag was reminded by the Barnsley game that the Danish legend still has a lot to offer. The 20-time English league winners are fighting on four fronts, so they will need his help to have a memorable season.