Manchester United tracking the new Michael Laudrup

He has the vision of a Danish legend, the touch of a Dutch master and could light up the Premier League like Spains finest.

Ajaxs 19-year-old Denmark international playmaker Christian Eriksen is wowing the big clubs watching his progress in Amsterdam and on the international stage.

United are tracking the youngster likened to the best outfield player ever produced by Denmark Michael Laudrup.

His qualities are admired by Hollands greatest Johan Cruyff.

And as well as the Reds, neighbours City are also reported to be in the hunt and, inevitably, Barcelona too are attracted by the kind of skills that would fit like a glove in the Nou Camps artistic gameplan.

United fans are desperate for Sir Alex Ferguson to invest in a playmaker to up the flair level in the Reds engine-room.

In an MEN survey, 96 per cent of fans believe the champions midfield is the department in most need of attention.

Eriksen is a product of the famous Ajax Academy youth system which has produced seven players for the Dutch clubs Eredivisie senior side this season.

Former United schemer Arnold Muhren was a full-time part of the Amsterdam clubs Academy for over a decade and worked with Eriksen as he progressed through the youth sides, skipped the reserves and went straight into Ajaxs first team.

After two campaigns, Eriksen was a central figure in the team that won the Dutch 2011 title - the clubs first success in seven years.

Muhren, who is recovering from a double hip replacement operation, has kept close tabs on the Danes rapidly growing reputation.

And Uniteds 1980s midfield playmaker believes the prodigy could have the answers to the Reds creative conundrum.

Christian has got very good vision and lovely technique. He is a footballer there is no doubt about that, Muhren told M.E.N. Sport.

You dont have to teach him how to play football, thats! for sur e. He really has something extra. He likes to play possession football and looks for the one-two touches and combinations all the time.

Everyone is talking about him being the new Michael Laudrup. There is the potential there to be even better.

He is a real creator for his team. He is very good at playing between the lines and has terrific vision. His distribution with through balls to the wingers and strikers is first-class. He can read a game very well and has a game like a real Dutch footballer.

United have always liked to play with wingers. Sir Alex Ferguson now has Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Nani and you could really see Eriksen feeding those guys and through the middle to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez.

It is not his game to play defensively. You would always have to have a midfielder with him to play the anchor role but that is the same with most playmakers.

Attacking

If he were to go anywhere then hed have to go to an attacking football team and that is obviously Uniteds way of playing.

Hed suit them at Old Trafford. The most important thing for me though is that he is such a normal guy. Hes not big-headed at all. He has his feet on the ground and that is vital.

But could Eriksen cut it in the hurly-burly of the Premier League?

Physically he needs to be stronger but that will come, added Arnold.

But the fact is that, when Cesc Fabregas was at Arsenal, he was an absolute star in the Premier League. David Silva is taking England by storm at Manchester City. Christian Eriksen can do the same things as both those players.

Muhren, however, believes the Dane should seriously consider remaining in Dutch football for the time being.

He is going to become much better with experience, he said.

The question is where do you get that experience? Could Christian go straight into a team! like Un ited, City or Barca straight away now?

He could go to Old Trafford or elsewhere and not be used regularly in the first team while he developed.

But at Ajax he will be playing week in and week out and also playing for Denmark. That is another avenue to learn quickly.

A lot of young players are tempted away too early and then they are unused and their progress slows.

There is a lot of talk about Eriksen going somewhere in the January transfer window. He has been very sensible and has said hell stay at Ajax to learn.

I suppose ideally that would be this season and next. If I were to advise him myself I would say stay in Amsterdam until at least the end of the season.

But I can understand other clubs wanting to act quickly.

Fergie may have a foot in the door with Reds goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard being a Danish national team-mate of the teenager.

Should United go for Eriksen? Have your say.

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