Goal takes a look at the Denmark international’s performances in 2012-13 ahead of a potential move away from the newly crowned Eredivisie champions in the summer

ANALYSIS
By Stefan Coerts

Three Eredivisie titles, one KNVB Beker, a host of individual awards, over 150 appearances at senior level and participation at a World Cup as well as a European Championship. That is the rather impressive resume of Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen at the tender age of 21.

It is therefore hardly surprising that the gifted midfielder is continually being linked with a move to a bigger league, with clubs such as Liverpool, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund all keeping tabs on his situation with the Amsterdam giants.

With a contract due to expire in June 2014, Ajax are widely expected to cash in on Eriksen this summer and the time seems right for the Dane to make the next step in his career.

After a relatively disappointing Euro 2012, Eriksen had a difficult start to the 2012-13 campaign, too, with Ajax coach Frank de Boer leaving him out of the squad for the Johan Cruyff Shield encounter against PSV and the Eredivisie opener versus AZ. The attacking midfielder was quickly reinstated once he returned to full match fitness, though, and has not disappointed since, proving a key figure in a successful title charge.

The Denmark star has occasionally been criticised for his failure to take the Godenzonen by the throat week after week – yet there is no denying that he has once more made some important steps forward this term. He might not always have been as dominant as you might expect from a player of his calibre against smaller opposition but his performances in the big games speak for themselves.

In four matches against PSV and Feyenoord – Ajax’s two biggest domestic rivals – Eriksen not only scored three goals but created a treble of chances to help the Amsterdam side to three wins and a draw, which proved crucial in the title race.

What will be even more reassuring for Spurs and Liverpool ahead of a potential summer move is that the young Dane managed to hold his own in the Champions League, too. Eriksen enjoyed perhaps his finest moment this term in Ajax’s 3-1 win over Manchester City, as he netted once and created another in the Dutch side’s surprise win, while he also did a fine job against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

Even though Ajax crashed out of the competition after the group stages, Eriksen confirmed once more that he has the potential to succeed at the very highest level.

“In my opinion, I’m not at the same level yet as [former Ajax players] Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder but this season was confirmation for myself that I can play at the highest level, also if you look at how I did in the Champions League,” Eriksen said himself after sealing the Dutch title, an opinion shared by former Spurs star Luka Modric earlier this season.

“Eriksen is very talented,” the Real Madrid midfielder enthused back in December. “He’s a great player and a key figure for Ajax.”

However, former head coach Aad de Mos feels the Denmark midfielder would act wise to stay at Ajax for one more season, and believes the 21-year-old is not done learning yet at the Amsterdam ArenA.

De Mos said: “I think he should stay put for another season. Eriksen has not yet reached his peak at Ajax, unlike Sneijder a few years ago. Wesley was done learning and ready for the next step but Eriksen? Not yet.”

There is no arguing Eriksen is not yet as dominant as Sneijder was before he left Ajax for Madrid in 2007, and there are question marks about whether the Dane would indeed be better off with one additional season in Amsterdam.

His best games came against top-class opposition, something which he only encounters a limited number of times in the Eredivisie, while he would have the chance to test himself against top teams much more often in a bigger league.

In order to make the next step in his development, more challenging surroundings could be just what Eriksen needs after yet another impressive season in the Netherlands.

Follow Stefan Coerts on

The Gunners are increasingly confident of signing the Swansea City centre-back this summer as they prepare a summer bid, having held initial discussions in April

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Goal correspondent

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Ashley s after holding a second round of talks with the player’s representatives, Goal can reveal.

s’ camp have indicated that the Swansea City defender is keen to move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

It is understood that discussions were held between the two parties this week following an initial meeting last month.

Arsenal will now put together a package to tempt the player to north London, before preparing a bid to prise him from Swansea.

The Gunners value s at £8 million, although the Welsh club are likely to hold out for a fee closer to £12m.

Arsenal are in pole position to capture the centre-back, with Liverpool harbouring increasing doubts about paying big money for a player who turns 29 in August, with the club’s owners refusing to sanction a deal.

Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of s, who he believes has the calibre and battle-hardened Premier League experience to beef up a defence that has been found wanting against the leading clubs this season.

The 28-year-old is expected to be a like-for-like replacement for skipper Thomas Vermaelen, who is attracting strong interest from Barcelona despite losing his place in the Arsenal team.

The Londoners are also keeping close tabs on highly-rated Olympique de Marseille centre-back Nicolas N’Koulou, 23, who has admitted he could leave the French club this summer.

Arsenal are preparing for an overhaul of their back line this summer, with a new goalkeeper, right-back and leader of the central defence their main priorities.

s has played the best football of his career over the last two seasons, playing an instrumental role in both establishing Swansea as a Premier League club and in their Capital One Cup triumph this season.

Liverpool were the early favourites to land s as they attempt to reinforce a defence that is likely to be deprived of Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates this summer, as well as the retiring Jamie Carragher.

But the hand of s’ former manager Brendan Rodgers could be forced by the Anfield club’s transfer committee, which has the final say on recruitment decisions.

Liverpool could offer the Swansea man a nailed-on first-team spot, although Arsenal are increasingly likely to be able to provide the carrot of Champions League football.

The Gunners made a deadline-day bid for Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Amorebieta in January but the Venezuelan, 28, had dropped off the radar even before agreeing to sign for Fulham.

Arsenal, who will allow veteran Sebastien Squillaci to leave on a free at the end of the season, have no plans to sell Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny but could be willing to listen to offers for Vermaelen.

Runaway Spanish league leaders Barca are in the market for a left-sided centre-back and the Arsenal club captain is believed to be one of those on their shortlist.

Vermaelen, who is rated in the £15m bracket, was axed from the Arsenal team in March following a series of mixed displays and has only started a single match in the intervening period, which was a consequence of a suspension incurred by Mertesacker.

Follow Wayne Veysey on

Speaking ahead of the weekend clash with Fulham, the Northern Irishman has yet again denied reports that his Spanish star is set for a move away from the club

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has played down speculation linking Pepe Reina with a move away from Anfield, stating unequivocally that the Spaniard is essential to his future plans.

Reina has been in decent form again this season for Liverpool, despite a number of injuries, keeping 29 clean sheets in total and four in Liverpool’s last five league games.

However, with the club again failing to qualify for the Champions League, many have suggested the Spanish international may look for a move away from the club, with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid as possible suitors.

But manager Rodgers has sought to bring an end to this discussion, reiterating Reina’s fondness of the Kop and highlighting the fact that he is still contractually bound to the club.

“It’s that silly season now that starts up all the rumours and whatnot but Pepe’s not for sale,” Rodgers told journalists at the pre-Fulham press conference this Friday afternoon.

“He’s got three years left on his contract here, he’s happy and obviously there’s speculation but it’s not worth commenting on.”

Furthermore, in a recent fans’ Twitter Q+A, Reina revealed he would be happy to see out the rest of his career at Liverpool, saying: “it would be a nice bit of history to be here more than 12 or 13 years”.