“It’s up to him,” says De Boer, as Eriksen edges towards Anfield switch.
Ajax boss Frank de Boer has given Christian Eriksen the green light to join Liverpool.
The Reds have been linked with the 21-year-old playmaker all summer but interest from Anfield has spiked in the past week after the club missed out on Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who opted to join Borussia Dortmund.
Denmark international Eriksen has just a year remaining on his contract at the Amsterdam Arena and the Eredisivie champions are willing to sell the youngster this summer, rather than lose him for free next year.
“It is up to Christian what he wants,” De Boer is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
“If he feels good going to Liverpool, then it is up to him. I would want nothing more than having him with us for a few more years.
“But we realise 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.”
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to add more firepower to his team this summer, targeting ’20 more goals’ next season.
While Mkhitaryan scored a record-breaking 25 league goals in just 29 appearances for Shakhtar last term, Eriksen’s strike-rate is more modest, with the Dane netting 11 goals in 41 appearances for Ajax last season, including one in the Champions League group stage against Man City.
But Eriksen’s versatility will please Rodgers; the youngster can operate as a deep-lying midfielder, ‘in the hole’ or even up-front.
COMMENTS