Kobbie Mainoo sparks Man Utd transfer decision as midfield summer sale sanctioned

Christian Eriksen will be allowed to leave Manchester United on a permanent transfer this summer.

The Dane, who recently confessed during the international break that he'd raised frustrations over his lack of game time during private talks with Erik ten Hag, is now approaching the final year of his Old Trafford contract.

United are therefore open to the prospect of a sale, particularly given Eriksen has struggled for minutes in light of Kobbie Mainoo's exciting breakthrough.

The Red Devils are understood to view England starlet Mainoo, who is in talks over a new long-term contract, as a figure they can build their new-look midfield around moving forward into the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era.

Eriksen looks poised to become one of the first casualties of the new regime which will have extra emphasis on signing younger players with Wolves' Joao Gomes among several stars of admiration. Galatasaray are one club that have already shown an interest in the 32-year-old playmaker. The ex-Tottenham maestro also proved popular during a short six-month spell with Brentford in 2022 when he sealed an emotional return to football following his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. It remains to be seen whether the Bees would be interested in bringing the Denmark international back to west London, however. United look set to make profit on Eriksen regardless of where he is sold as he was signed on a free transfer from their Premier League counterparts. He also has a market in Italy where he previously won the Serie A title with Inter Milan under Antonio Conte. Prior to this weekend's action, Eriksen played just 37 minutes of United's past seven Premier League matches and was an unused substitute in six of those.

Eriksen detailed his unhappiness in a