Manchester United have apparently made an offer to take Inter Milan’s Christian Eriksen on loan until the end of the season. Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was working on a way to see the playmaker return to north London but his former employers are looking to beat him to the deal.
Eriksen left Spurs for the San Siro last January but he has struggled to stamp his mark in Antonio Conte’s team.
A host of Premier League clubs were offered the chance to take the 28-year-old on loan.
Inter are apparently asking for Eriksen’s wages to be paid in full – reported to be £3.5million until the end of the season.
However, United are only willing to cover £1.3m and want the Serie A side to make up the difference.
“It is while our understanding, while he has been linked heavily with a return to Tottenham Hotspur, he has in fact been offered to Manchester United,” transfer expert Ian McGarry told the Transfer Window Podcast.
“It would be a loan deal until the end of the season with no option to buy as far as it goes at the moment.
“The deal is far from being done, mostly because Manchester United have not offered to pay a sufficient part of his ways.
“He is on €8m net per year, meaning €4m for the remainder of this season.
“United have offered around €1.5m with Inter paying the rest.
“Solskjaer is keen on the idea. He is looking for a central midfielder to assist in United’s challenge for the Premier League title.”
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also explained the problem Eriksen has in returning to the UK.
“Christian Eriksen wants to leave and would love to be back in the Premier League, especially with Tottenham,” Romano told Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk.
“At the moment that’s not so easy, his wages are €7.5million-a-season (£6.7m) after taxes, which is totally different to his salary a year ago when he was playing at Tottenham.
“That’s a problem, as is the fact Inter are asking for a loan fee to be paid before letting Eriksen return to Spurs but not other clubs,.
“They paid to sign him when he had six months left on his contract, so they want a fee from Tottenham before he goes back.
“I’m sure they will try and come to a deal but it’s not so easy, and there are other clubs in the Premier League talking to his representatives as well.”