Manchester United would need to shell out an excess of £50million for Frenkie de Jong or Kalvin Phillips but there is a cut-price transfer right in front of their nose - Christian Eriksen.
The Red Devils are looking to add reinforcements in the upcoming window as Erik ten Hag oversees a major rebuild. The middle of the park is a priority with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard leaving as free agents but truthfully it's a problem area that has dated back to last summer.
United are wary of spending big fees, similar to what they did 12 months ago with Jadon Sancho, and are put by off by De Jong's and Phillip's price tags which are north of £50m. Ten Hag will be looking to go down the route of free agency as an alternative with the likes of Paulo Dybala out of contract after leaving Juventus.
Another player who comes under that category is Eriksen after his short-term deal with Brentford expires.
The Dane made a remarkable return to football this year, just a few months on from suffering a terrifying heart attack on the pitch while representing his country at Euro 2020.
After being forced to leave Inter due to strict laws against playing in Italy if a player has a defibrillator device implanted in their body, the playmaker returned to England with Brentford in January until the end of the season.
It wasn't a given that Eriksen would return to the levels he reached previously with Tottenham and Inter, but he answered those questions emphatically. In just 11 games for the Bees, he firmly established himself as their best player, grabbing a goal and four assists.
Brentford are hopeful that he will extend his stay with Thomas Frank's side but Eriksen will have lots of options available to him due to his impressive spell with the Premier League newcomers.
Spurs are tagged as the 'favourites' to sign Eriksen given his affinity for the club, as well as the fact Antonio Conte brought him to the San Siro in January 2020.
But United should challenge the north Londoners for his signature as he is exactly the player they need. The Red Devils have a lack of depth and quality in midfield, especially in the attacking areas. They don't have that player that can dictate play, and unlock defences with a killer final ball to provide clear-cut chances for their strikers.
That's what Eriksen has done his whole career including his time at Brentford despite his health scare last summer. Frank was confident that Eriksen would return to Brentford next season but accepts that it's Eriksen's decision and he needs to make the best one for him and his family.
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He said: "I am always positive. I always believe we have a very good chance. I know he is happy here, he is enjoying his football. It is a decision that will be taken at the end of the season.
"I will do what I can but it's down to Christian, where it's like everything if you decide to go to one club or another, you buy that house or another house, you take that job or another job.
"There must be pros and cons and I always say if you make it an eight-two decision, where you have eight pros and two cons, then you are in a good position.
"I hope Christian makes the right choice for him and his family and I really hope it will be us."
