NEWCASTLE UNITED are reportedly “growing increasingly hopeful” of beating Tottenham and West Ham to the signing of Christian Eriksen.
The Danish star, 30, has been in great form since returning to top-level football following his terrifying heart scare at last summer’s Euros.
He was released by Inter Milan due to being unable to play in Italy with an ICD fitted for his heart and returned to England with Brentford in January.
After penning a short-term deal until June, he has already scored one and grabbed an assist in his five matches for the Bees.
His displays have alerted a host of clubs who could land a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
Brentford are desperate to hang on to him, but they know they face a huge task to keep Eriksen.
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His former club Spurs plus Everton and West Ham have all been linked with a move.
But the states that “Newcastle officials are growing increasingly hopeful of being able to beat off competition” for his signature.
Despite their wealth, the club’s Saudi Arabian owners will not be handing manager Eddie Howe any blank cheques due to the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules.
And that makes the prospect of getting an established international star like Eriksen for nothing such an “especially appealing” option.
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This fresh report claims Newcastle will offer him a “significant increase” on his current wage at Brentford.
And that they will also be “willing to match or better any other offer” he gets from their Prem rivals.
However, it also states that money is not the only thing that the North East side hope will lure him to Tyneside.
Director Amanda Staveley hopes her vision of the future, which includes a top six finish within a couple of seasons, will help too.