Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen has won three league titles with Ajax but is seemingly keen to leave this summer. [Reuters] Reuters

Liverpool are hoping to finally convince Ajax to part with star midfielder Christian Eriksen after submitting an offer of €21m for the highly-rated playmaker.

Eriksen has long been linked with a move away from the Amsterdam Arena after refusing to put pen to paper on a new contract and admitting that he is keen to secure a move away from the Dutch champions.

The 21 year old has just 12 months remaining on his contract and has been linked with some of the top sides in Europe. Borussia Dortmund were believed to have been interested but they instead chose to sign Liverpool target Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

This forced Reds boss Brendan Rodgers to look elsewhere and it seems he has now identified Eriksen as his preferred target.

Italian giants AC Milan have already made contact with Ajax over the Denmark international, with some publications reporting that personal terms between the two parties had already been agreed.

However, Tutto Mercato now believe that Liverpool have bid €21m and are hopeful that they can convince Ajax to accept their offer, rather than the one of AC Milan.

Much will now depend on Eriksen who has been told by manager Frank de Boer that he would not prevent him from moving to Anfield if this was his preferred destination.

"It is up to Christian what he wants," said De Boer just last week. "If he feels good going to Liverpool, then it is up to him. I would want nothing more than having him with us for a few more years.

"But we realise the interest in this kind of player is huge. And I can also understand that he wants to make another step in his career. I can't stop him."

Rodgers has made it clear that he wants to sign a creative midfielder that is able to instantly make an impression in the Liverpool first team and Eriksen would seemingly meet this criteria.

He has won three league titles with Ajax and has made more than 100 league appearances for the club since breaking into the first team when he was just 17 years old.

While Eriksen could be the fifth arrival of the summer it seems goalkeeper Pepe Reinia may be leaving the club after eight years. The Spaniard is close to agreeing terms over a loan move to Napoli which would see him reunited with former manager Rafa Benitez.