Combine conversion from model to viewModel gives error "Type of expression is ambiguous without more context when running .eraseToAnyPublisher()

Question

I am trying to figure out why the last .eraseToAnyPublisher() is giving the aforementioned error, to me it seems all the types are well specified, aren't they?

static func searchUsers(query: String) -> AnyPublisher<[UserViewModel], Never> {
            // prepare URL
            let urlString = "\(baseURL)/search/users?q=\(query)"
            guard let url = URL(string: urlString) else  {
                return Just([]).eraseToAnyPublisher()
            }
            // get handle of native data task publisher
            let publisher = URLSession.shared.dataTaskPublisher(for: url)
                .handleEvents(
                    receiveSubscription: { _ in
                        activityIndicatorPublisher.send(true)
                    }, receiveCompletion: { _ in
                        activityIndicatorPublisher.send(false)
                    }, receiveCancel: {
                        activityIndicatorPublisher.send(false)
                    })
                .tryMap { data, response -> Data in
                    guard let httpResponse = response as? HTTPURLResponse,
                          httpResponse.statusCode == 200 else {
                              throw NetworkError.httpError
                          }
                    print(String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) ?? "")
                    return data
                }
                .decode(type: SearchUserResponse.self, decoder: JSONDecoder())
                .map { $0.items }
                .flatMap({ users in
                    var userViewModels = [UserViewModel]()
                    users.forEach { user in
                        userViewModels.append(contentsOf: UserViewModel(with: user))
                    }
                    return userViewModels
                })
                .catch { err -> Just<[UserViewModel]> in
                    print(err)
                    return Just([])
                }
                .eraseToAnyPublisher() // <-- HERE IS THE ERROR
            return publisher
        }