Christian Eriksen can give Manchester United Plan B if they don't sign Frenkie de Jong

Christian Eriksen developed a reputation for himself during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. Above all else, the Danish international was regarded as a creative talent in the final third, labelled as a gifted playmaker at White Hart Lane.

He was an inventive spark under Mauricio Pochettino. In fact, Eriksen is currently placed 16th on the all-time list for assists in the Premier League, with 66 of them under his belt for Spurs and Brentford.

The 30 year-old left Tottenham in January 2020, joining Inter Milan and winning Serie A in the process. Eriksen returned to English shores six months ago, but he'd clearly evolved as a player even in a short time abroad.

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After suffering from a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020, Brentford took a chance on the Dane by presenting him with a six-month contract and a road back to the Premier League. Once deployed by the Bees, it was apparent that Eriksen had matured since his days under Pochettino, with Thomas Frank keen to maximise his ability to dictate the game all over the pitch.

Rather than occupying the final third at all times, Eriksen was afforded a virtually free role by Frank, aiding Brentford's ability to build from the back by receiving possession under pressure and finding his teammates higher up the field with incisive passes.

Eriksen played just 11 games but regardless, he made quite the impression. Two of his passing networks are pictured below, with the left coming against West Ham and the right coming against Manchester United.

His passes from those matches can provide an insight into his tendency to roam. For Brentford, he wasn't just a creative spark, he influenced their ball