Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Red Devils Competing Against City for Ajax’s Danish Starlet?

With the January transfer window round the corner, Manchester United have locked horns with local rivals, Manchester City, for Ajax's Danish wonderkid, Christian Eriksen, who has been in superb form during the opening rounds of the current Eredivisie season in the Netherlands.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be ready to bid more than £20 million to bring Eriksen to Old Trafford and believes the player will help fill the void created following United legend Paul Scholes' retirement. However, the Red Devils do know that the 19-year-old is being monitored by Spanish champions Barcelona, in addition to City.

Interestingly, the player was turned down by both Chelsea and Tottenham, who thought he was not large enough to compete in the Premiership. The teenager has, since then, turned into a world-class player.

An unnamed source has revealed to the Daily Star Sunday that United were seriously interested in the youngster and a bid of £20 million was being readied.

Eriksen was first recognized following wonderful performances for Denmark, in a 2010 friendly against England, according to a Caughtoffside report.

Christian Dannemann Eriksen, who was named both the Dutch Football Talent of the Year and Danish Football Player of the Year in 2011, is an attacking midfielder and has made a total of 81 appearances for Ajax. He has managed to score 13 times.