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Galatasaray has decided to delay their pursuit of Manchester United’s Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen until the summer, despite the Turkish transfer window remaining open until February 9. The club had considered making a late bid for the Denmark international but now seems to have resigned to the idea that finalizing a deal before the window closes is unlikely. ESPN has reported that Eriksen is set to remain at Old Trafford for the duration of the 2023-24 season.
The Istanbul-based club remains interested in revisiting negotiations at the season’s end. Eriksen, who was among Erik ten Hag’s first signings in the summer of 2022, has seen significant playing time last season, featuring in 36 games across all competitions.
This season, however, Eriksen has found starts harder to come by, making the first eleven in only nine of United’s 23 league matches. The emergence of Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro’s return to peak condition has limited Eriksen’s recent appearances to a bench role in the last three fixtures.
With 18 months remaining on his contract at Manchester United, which he joined on a free transfer, Eriksen’s future is under speculation. His stint at Brentford before moving to Manchester, particularly after making an admirable comeback to professional football seven months following a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, was noteworthy.
Despite declining Brentford’s offer for an extended stay in favor of a move to Manchester United in 2022, Brentford’s manager Thomas Frank expressed a warm openness to Eriksen’s potential return. In his words to Tipsbladet,
Frank stated, “He will always be welcome back, Christian – always. I think he knows that. And we know that he had a good time here. I understood well why he went to United back then, and I’ve said that publicly. I also think he’s done well. Of course, he had an injury before Christmas for a while. But if Christian wants, he’s very welcome.”
