Thomas Frank tempts Christian Eriksen with statue for Brentford stay

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By Martin Graham | 21st May 2022

Brentford manager Thomas Frank is trying to get midfielder Christian Eriksen to stay at the club by promising him a statue.

Eriksen, 30, moved to Brentford in the January transfer window after spending the first six months of the season recovering from a heart issue which he suffered playing for Denmark at the Euro 2020 tournament.

Contracted to Internazionale at the time, the Danish midfielder was forced to end his association with the Italians due to a local law that prevents athletes with heart related problems from competing professionally.

Frank, Eriksen’s compatriot, reached out to him and offered him a contract to get him a taste of first team football again to get him back into gear. Eriksen has thrived at the small London club, contributing to five goals (one goal and four assists) in 10 Premier League games.

He has also been able to get back into Denmark’s squad, where his goal ratio since his return to international football is a lot better than at Brentford.

His performances at the Brentford Community Stadium have attracted the interests of many clubs again, including former club Tottenham Hotspur, managed by the man who took him to Italy, Antonio Conte.

The former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder is reportedly considering his future at Brentford with more reports suggesting that he is open to a move. This, it has been understood, is because Eriksen wants to compete for trophies again, having entered his thirties and drawing closer to the twilight of his career.

Brentford, however, are doing all they can to keep him and now, the club’s manager, Frank, has made a big promise of a statue erection for Eriksen if he remains at the small London club.

A win-win situation for both parties

Frank made this promise to the player via his pre-match press conference ahead of the club’s final game in the Premier League against relegation strugglers Leeds United.

“I would love to say 100%, but I am convinced there is a good chance he can wear the Brentford shirt (after this season),” Frank said.

“I know I am optimistic but I also picked up the phone and said, `Hey, do you want to come to Brentford?´ No one thought about that six months ago. I am convinced we will have a chance.”

Frank, who also coached Eriksen as a youth international in Denmark’s under 17 team, stated that the player would win from the deal, as would Brentford, regardless of the outcome. “Either he signs with us and everyone is going to be happy and the fans will build a statue of him outside the stadium in two or three years´ time,” Frank said.

“Or he goes to a bigger level and fans will applaud him and we will all say, ‘Thank you for this time, go forward.’ He helped the team, he gave something to the fans they had never seen before at this level.

“We helped him back to his football life again.”