Eriksen's a perfect fit for Ten Hag's plan

THE last time United signed a former Ajax player in his 30s on a free transfer it didn't turn out too badly.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined the club in 2016 and a year later had helped secure the last two pieces of silverware to adorn the Old Trafford trophy room.

The 34-year-old was a shrewd bit of business by Jose Mourinho, scoring 28 goals in 46 games in his first season and showing leadership on and off the pitch, before a knee injury brought the story to a premature end.

Five years on United are back in the market for a free transfer with links to the Dutch giants.

Christian Eriksen spent three years in Amsterdam and was back there at the beginning of the year, building up his fitness before his fairytale return to the Premier League with Brentford.

That gave Erik ten Hag an early glimpse of the 30-year-old's form and fitness and presumably, he showed the qualities that have lit up the second half of the Premier League season.

It's a year this month since Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark in the European Championship, but recently he's looked as good as ever.