Manchester City and Chelsea are battling for Ajax winger Christian Eriksen. The Mail on Sunday says Chelsea have fired an opening salvo, testing Ajax's resolve to hang on to the 19-year-old midfielder with a £22million offer, but City are ready to step in with a bid of about £30m.

Both clubs, along with the crème de la crème of European football, had representatives at the European Cup qualifier against Dynamo Zagreb last Tuesday, when Eriksen had a starring role in the Dutch club's 4-0 victory.