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Showing posts with label Christian Eriksen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Eriksen. Show all posts
Christian Eriksen's stock has always been valued by clubs
outside of Holland, but the Liverpool target has now had to politely refuse an
offer to move to Bayer Leverkusen, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf.
Amid talk over Liverpool's increasing interest, Leverkusen
were thought to be preparing a substantial bid for the Dane, whose contract at
Ajax expires last summer.
However, yesterday's revelation that Eriksen woluld be
prepared to sign an Ajax extension rather than move on a free transfer has
culminated in a rejection of Leverkusen's advances.
While a move to Liverpool is believed to be the player's
preference, with their being plenty of time left in the transfer window,
Leverkusen may feel disappointed they did not fit the midfielder's 'big club'
desire.
Liverpool want to clinch a £22million double deal for Ajax
stars Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld while Chelsea's Ryan Bertrand is
also on their radar.
Attacking midfielder Eriksen, 21 and Belgium international
defender Alderweireld, 24, both only have one year remaining on their Ajax
contracts and are expected to leave the Dutch club.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has turned to £15m-rated Eriksen.
Dortmund had also been chasing Eriksen, but Liverpool now only expect to face
competition from Roma.
The Denmark international has been one of Europe's
outstanding young talents in recent seasons. Two summers ago he was on the
brink of joining Manchester City but a misunderstanding over a proposed
meeting with then manager Roberto Mancini scuppered the deal.
Ajax coach Frank de Boer said: "I would want nothing
more than having Christian with us for a few more years.
"But we realise that the interest in this kind of
player is huge. And I can also understand that he wants to make another step in
his career. I can't stop him."
Despite the fact Liverpool cannot offer Eriksen Champions
League football, it is understood he is interested in moving to Anfield.
De Boer added: "If Liverpool go back to really good
possession play, it can be a success for Christian. But it does mean that their
entire way of playing has to change. It is up to Christian what he wants. If he
feels good going to Liverpool anyway, then it is up to him."
Alderweireld has turned down the chance to discuss personal
terms with Norwich after the Dutch giants agreed a £7m deal for the centre-back
with the Carrow Road club.
He explained why he would not be rushed into a move to
Norwich - leaving the door open for Liverpool.
"I am keeping all my options open," said
Alderweireld. "I am not rushing out the door. The whole picture of my
next club has to be perfect. With every offer I am receiving this summer, I
look at the pros and cons. The total package of my next club has to be right
for me."
Liverpool have also made an enquiry about left-back Bertrand
as Rodgers attempts to build a squad capable of challenging for the top four.
Rodgers knows Bertrand well, having worked with him during his
time at Chelsea and taken him on loan as his first signing at Reading.
Liverpool have made a list of players they hope to land in
the summer according to reports in England, with the club chasing Tiago Ilori,
Toby Alderweireld and Kyriakos Papadopoulos as they look to add some serious
depth to the squad.
Ilori would be more of a signing for the future for the
Reds, who are continuing with their policy of bringing in players who can offer
long term potential and re-sale value as well as immediate success.
The 20-year-old has been a regular in Sporting's reserve
side in the Portuguese league, but he has also broken through to the first
team, making 12 appearances for the side this season.
The centre-back has shown potential for both club and
country in the last season, featuring for the Portugal under 20 side.
Meanwhile, Toby Alderweireld has been garnering interest
from Liverpool, as well as Tottenham, for some months now, with the Belgium
international having starred for Ajax this season.
Since moving to the Dutch club's senior line-up from the
youth team in 2008, the defender has become an integral part of their backline,
and Rodgers will be in the market for defenders after Jamie Carragher retired
at the end of last season.
He admitted last week that he would be open to a move to
Liverpool, telling reporters: "I am calm about these rumours around the
world, but for example, Liverpool has the potential to reach the top.
"I do not know when I'm going to make a decision. I
think Jan Vertonghen last season left it very late."
Alderweireld would be avaliable for around £8 million, and
though Liverpool look set to miss out on fellow Ajax target Christian Eriksen
to Borussia Dortmund, the club are front runners for this star.
Lastly, £12 million-rated Papadopoulos is also believed to
be on Rodgers' list of youngsters who can give the club long term success, but
also have an immediate impact.
At just 21, the centre back has made a big impression at
Schalke, and his efforts helped the side to qualify for Champions League
football this season.
He would also possibly be a replacement for Jamie Carragher,
and would give the side even more depth in their backline as Rodgers looks to
seriously bolster the Liverpool squad in this transfer window.
Ajax have moved to deny reports that they have agreed a deal
to sell Christian Eriksen to Liverpool this summer.
Recent reports have suggested the Premier League club are
close to landing the highly-rated playmaker at the end of the season after
courting his services for some time.
Eriksen's future at Ajax has been the subject of conjecture
for some time with many of the top clubs across Europe linked with the talented
Dane.
The 21-year-old has impressed for Ajax again this season,
scoring 12 goals this term and he is the current Dutch Footballer of the Year.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to bolster his
attacking options and Eriksen is believed to be one of his top targets this
summer.
However, Ajax insist no deal has been agreed with Liverpool
for the Denmark international's signature.
"We will send out a press release when there is an
agreement," Ajax press manager Eefje Schep told Danish TV2.
"Also if there is only a deal between Ajax and the
club. So at this time there is no agreement between Ajax and Liverpool."
Ajax are resigned to losing Eriksen this summer with the
classy attacker turning down the club's offer of a new deal.
Ajax technical director Marc Overmars has reiterated that
Eriksen, who has one year running on his current deal at the Amsterdam ArenA,
has rejected the chance to extend his contract.
"Christian has informed us that he won't be signing a
new deal with us at this time," Overmars told Voetbal International.
"I think that he and his agent will want to see what
options are available in the summer.
Danish ace
Christian Eriksen has hinted he could be about to leave Ajax for one of the
Premier League big boys after insisting his transfer fee will be left to the
clubs.
The
21-year-old Ajax midfielder has caught the attentions of Manchester United,
Tottenham and Arsenal but it is Liverpool who are believed to be favourites to
land his signature.
Eriksen
gets on well with his countryman Daniel Agger and he played with Luis Suarez at
Ajax.
It is
thought Ajax would demand a fee of around £17million for their star man, whose
contract runs out at the end of next season.
The Denmark
international told Dutch newspaper Het Parool: "I read that my asking
price was €20million. That's a lot, yes, but I will leave that to the
clubs."
The hot
prospect made his international debut aged just 18 and has gone on to play 34
times for his country.
Ajax are
three points clear of PSV at the top of Eredivisie.
Liverpool have stepped up their interest in young Danish
star Christian Eriksen, following final checks during the international break.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has been impressed with scouting
reports about the Ajax playmaker and, after watching him play for his country
against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria over the past week, the Anfield club
are ready to take the plunge with a firm offer.
After refusing the Dutch giants' offer of a new contract,
21-year-old Eriksen will be made available for transfer in the summer as he
will be entering the final year of his current deal.
The midfielder's profile suits Liverpool's blueprint for new
players so perfectly, they are ready to go head to head with the likes of Inter
Milan, Tottenham and perhaps Chelsea - who have been linked with Eriksen
recently - for his services.
Rodgers knows there will be competition for a player who
already has 34 Denmark caps, but he believes he has two trump-cards he can
play.
Not only is Liverpool centre-half Daniel Agger the
midfielder's captain at international level, but Eriksen also played alongside
Luis Suarez when he first broke into the Ajax first-team in 2010.
The player is also known to have an affinity for the Reds
and has hinted strongly in recent weeks that he will leave Holland at the end
of the season, with a switch to the Premier League his most likely option.
"I don't know if I will be an Ajax player after the
summer - we will see what happens. I don't exclude anything," he said.
"I haven't received a detailed offer of a contract
extension yet, but my agent has had talks with the club regarding that
matter."
Liverpool were busy during the international break, with
Eriksen one of several summer targets to be scouted while playing for their
country.
Rodgers is determined to add a creative midfielder in the
close-season, and he has identified several targets, to try to ensure he
doesn't miss out if his first choice is tempted away elsewhere.
The Anfield boss is also highly impressed by Armenia
attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and sent Anfield's head of analytics
Michael Edwards - one of the key men in Liverpool's recruitment team - to
Yereven to watch the 24-year-old play for his country against Czech Republic.
Edwards was joined by Barry Hunter, Liverpool's overseas
scout.
Even though Armenia were beaten 3-0, the pair were impressed
by Mkhitaryan, who took man of the match honours in a losing cause.
The sticking point with the 24-year-old has always been the
fee - Shaktar Donetsk want £23million for a player they are convinced will
become one of the top stars in Europe.
Again, Mkhitaryan has aroused interest from other Premier
League clubs as well as Italy, but Rodgers will continue to monitor the situation
to see if he can negotiate a price that fits into his budget.
Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa and Brazilian defender
Dede are also on Liverpool's radar.
Christian Eriksen has refused to sign a new contract at
Ajax, heightening speculation he could be set for a summer move to the Premier
League.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham are all reported
to be keen to acquire the services of current Danish footballer of the year,
who scored against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the
season.
The midfielder, who turns 21 on Thursday, has been with the
Dutch club since the age of 16, and made his debut for Ajax when just 17.
The Dutch champions' technical director Marc Overmars
confirmed the man who has scored nine and assisted 13 goals for Ajax this
season has refused to extend his current deal, which runs out in the summer of
2014.
He said: "Christian has informed us that he doesn't
want to sign a new contract right now. I think he and his agent want to see
what opportunities present themselves this summer.
"We want him to stay here for at least two more years,
but the day he leaves us, he will be ready to play for the very best.
"He's a player even the biggest clubs in the world
could do with having in their squad."
Manchester
United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool target Christian Eriksen is ready to
listen to offers from other clubs in the summer, according to his club Ajax.
Sir Alex
Ferguson has been credited with an interest in the Denmark midfielder for some
time and there have been reports of a bid coming out of Old Trafford.
Both
Tottenham and Liverpool have also been linked with an interest Eriksen, so all
three will have been encouraged by the comments by Ajax director of football,
Marc Overmars.
The former
Holland and Arsenal winger revealed Eriksen will likely assess the offers
coming in from the host of clubs around Europe, including the trio of Premier
League teams above.
He told
Voetbal International: "I think Christian first wants to see what clubs
next summer will come in for him."
However,
Overmars was hopeful the young playmaker would decide to remain in Amsterdam
and extend his current contract.
"If
there is no suitable club for him in between this, I hope he stays at
Ajax," he added.
Manchester
United have been criticised for a lack of creativity at times this in the
centre of their midfield and Eriksen would certainly go some way to addressing
that problem.
Ajax star Christian Eriksen has opened the door for a move
to Tottenham or Liverpool after admitting his future could be in England.
The 20-year-old Denmark sensation has long been linked with
a move to the Premier League, but has always brushed it off, insisting Spain or
Italy are more likely destinations.
However, speaking to the Dutch media this week, Eriksen has
now added England to that list, and also suggested he faces an unknown few
months ahead over his future.
'I think that my future lies in England, Italy or Spain.
These are the competitions that I like,' said Eriksen.
'I do not know what I will do in a few months' time yet, but
I want to leave my mark before moving on.'
The comments will be music to the ears of the likes
Manchester United and Manchester City, who have previously been known to hold
an interest in Eriksen, while Tottenham and Liverpool have even been linked
with bids in the last few months.
Eriksen is unlikely to come cheap though - Ajax have hinted
that would like at least £20million for the pass-master, who is currently contracted
to them until 2014.
