Brentford manager Thomas Frank: 'I don't think I should discuss' Christian Eriksen links

Reports surfaced Monday that Premier League side Brentford have been in talks with midfielder Christian Eriksen about signing him to a six-month deal that could include an extension option. This comes after the 29-year-old had his Inter Milan contract terminated by mutual consent on Dec. 17 because Serie A rules prevent him from playing with his implanted cardioverter defibrillator. 

Per BBC Sport, Brentford boss Thomas Frank briefly touched upon the subject Tuesday but wouldn't directly comment on if his club will pursue the Danish maestro. Eriksen previously played under Frank as part of Denmark's youth teams. 

While Frank referred to Eriksen as "one of the world's best players," he added that "I don't think I should discuss" rumors linking Brentford with the free agent. 

"If something is done [with Brentford], I am more than happy to speak about it," Frank remarked. "Under normal circumstances, there would not be rumors with a club like us. I guess we should be flattered to be linked with a player of Christian's quality. We all know the journey this club has been through over the last 10 years.

"If someone said we would be linked with a top player like Christian, fans would think are you crazy?"

Brentford currently sit 14th in the Premier League table and 10 points clear of the relegation zone. 

Via ESPN, a Football Association spokesperson recently explained how and why England could permit Eriksen to play after he was fitted with a defibrillator following the cardiac arrest he suffered during the UEFA European Championship last June. 

"The FA would not ban someone from playing based on a cardiac screen because a) medical information of this kind is confidential between the player and the doctor who is caring for them and b) any risk is to the player themselves and not to others on the pitch, so it is an individual decision which the player takes with support and advice from those who are responsible for their personal medical wellbeing," the spokesperson said. 

"In Italy, there is a longstanding nationwide cardiac screening policy which runs across all sports participation and does not allow participation in a case of increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest during exercise. This has not been adopted in other countries, including the UK."

Eriksen would have to be cleared by an FA-approved cardiac specialist and then pass a club medical before he could put pen to paper on any agreement. He's eager to return to top-flight football to prove he's capable of being selected for Denmark's World Cup squad later this year.