According to ESPN and its sources, Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen could join Premier League side Brentford and is close to signing an initial six-month contract.
The 29-year-old is a free agent at the moment following the termination of his contract with Inter Milan as the Italian medical authority refused to allow him to play with a cardiac device implant.
Eriksen had shockingly suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland last year. He had collapsed on the pitch mid-game and alert presence of mind from his teammates led by Simon Kjaer as well as quick assistance from the medical team on the pitch saved his life. He was later taken to the hospital where his condition stabilised.
Following that incident, Eriksen had to be fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). While many believed that his football career was over, the midfielder still thinks he can play at the top level.
Serie A rules do not allow players to play with a medically-fitted device, and the Dane is setting his eyes towards England, where he represented Tottenham between 2013 and 2020. Reports suggest that Brentford have offered him a six-month contract with the option of an additional year. Negotiations are in its initial stages as Eriksen’s representatives are also talking to other clubs regarding a potential move.
In an interview earlier this month, the player expressed his desire to play the World Cup with Denmark this year in Qatar:
“My goal is to play in the World Cup in Qatar. I want to play. That’s been my mindset all along. It’s a goal, a dream. Whether I’ll be picked is another thing. But it’s my dream to come back. I’m sure I can because I don’t feel any different. Physically, I’m back in top shape.
My dream is to rejoin the national team and play at the Parken again and prove that it was a one-timer and that it won’t happen again. I want to prove I’ve moved on and that I can play [for] the national team again. Again, it’s up to the manager to assess my level. But my heart is not an obstacle.”
The midfielder had returned to training with Danish side Odense Boldklub who he grew up with before going to Switzerland to train with third-tier side FC Chiasso. Earlier in January, Spurs manager Antonio Conte said that the doors were always open for Eriksen at Tottenham.
