Manchester United are pursuing a deal for Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen in the final 48 hours of the transfer window, sources have told ESPN FC.
Eriksen, 27, has told Spurs he wants to leave the club this summer and, while United are interested, there is an acceptance it will be difficult to pull off with time running out before Thursday’s deadline.
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Tottenham put a £130 million price tag on the Denmark international at the start of the summer but, in the absence of a formal bid, sources have told ESPN FC they could be willing to accept a compromise.
Eriksen has just a year left on his contract and chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to let a prize asset walk away for free next summer. Tottenham are in talks over deals for Bruno Fernandes and Giovani Lo Celso as they look for a replacement.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to bolster his midfield after losing Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera in the last six months. United, according to sources, have backed away from deals for Fernandes and Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff leaving Eriksen as a key target.
There remains doubt about Paul Pogba‘s future amid renewed interest from Real Madrid. Solskjaer is keen to keep the France midfielder at Old Trafford but an offer of £180m would be considered.
Pogba has said publicly he wants a “new challenge.” United have spent £145m on Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire this summer.
Juventus and Inter Milan remain interested in Romelu Lukaku, although a move to Juventus is unlikely after United pulled out of negotiations to sign Paulo Dybala.
Lukaku has not featured for United during preseason because of an ankle injury but was pictured training with Anderlecht on Tuesday.
United remain tight-lipped on whether the striker was given permission to train with another club and only said that the players were given a day off on Monday and are expected back at Carrington on Tuesday.