Liverpool face a straight fight with Tottenham for the signature of Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen in the summer, after the youngster reportedly made his intentions clear of playing in the English Premier League.

Eriksen is one of the most highly-rated players in Europe and is expected to leave the Dutch club at the end of the season after refusing to sign a new contract, leaving him with just a little over a year remaining on his current deal.

That has led to the likes of Liverpool and Spurs being alerted and the two Premier League clubs are set to battle it out after Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly dropped their interest in the talented 21-year-old, according to the London Evening Standard.

United are not looking for a playmaker after signing Shinji Kagawa, a similar player to Eriksen, while Arsenal have the likes of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere in their lineup.

Although Spurs are also flush with attacking midfielders, they could use with bolstering their squad, with the likelihood of the Champions League looming large; signing a player of Eriksen's caliber might also convince Gareth Bale to stay at White Hart Lane.

Liverpool are in the market for talented young players and Eriksen fits that bill perfectly and the fact that the Danish international is not likely to cost too much, owing to the fact that he will be out of contract next season, is also a major factor.

"Christian wants to play in the Premier League and we think he will do well there," a senior Ajax source told the Evening Standard. "The club had discussed the option of keeping him until the end of his contract but it makes sense now to sell.

"Liverpool and Spurs are scouting him almost every week. Arsenal are no longer interested and Man United are not on the scene.

"The club will not let him go cheaply so there is a long way to go but it seems likely he will move to Tottenham or Liverpool."