Mail: English clubs on red alert

England's biggest clubs have been alerted to the news that Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen does not wish to sign a new contract at the club.

The talented playmaker - among the continent's finest emerging talents - has interested Liverpool and Manchester United in the past and remains a target for Manchester City and Tottenham.

Given he turns 21 this month, Eriksen is potentially now in a position to continue his development elsewhere and this, revealed Ajax technical director Marc Overmars, could be the case as soon as this summer with his contract due to expire in 2014.

"Christian has informed us that he doesn't want to sign a new contract right now," Overmars told sporten.dk. "I think he and his agent want to see what opportunities present themselves this summer.

"We want him to stay here for at least two more years, but the day he leaves us, he will be ready to play for the very best. He's a player even the biggest clubs in the world could do with having in their squad."

Reports suggest the link with Liverpool is the strongest but in a 4-3-3 formation, the competition between Steven Gerrard, Lucas, Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey has already ensured the perhaps premature departure of Nuri Sahin and therefore makes Eriksen's arrival appear unlikely.

"Anything Marc or Christian have said about it is correct," said Eriksen's agent Martin Schoots. "But we've agreed that we don't want to talk about the speculation too much.

"Christian wants to focus solely on football and not so much on his future."

Source: Daily Mail