Manchester United have cooled their pursuit of Christian Eriksen, sources have told ESPN FC.
United held discussions about the possibility of signing the Tottenham midfielder before Thursday’s transfer deadline but believe he has his heart set on a move to Spain.
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Eriksen has just 12 months left on his contract and has given Spurs no indication he is willing to commit his long-term future to the club. United had hoped it presented a chance to sign the Denmark international for a reduced fee but talks are not continuing at this stage.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has splashed nearly £150 million on Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire this summer.
Negotiations around other targets are continuing in the last 24 hours of the window but sources have told ESPN FC there is a possibility that there will be no new arrivals before the deadline and that Solskjaer is comfortable with that scenario.
A move for Mario Mandzukic could still be resurrected — depending on what happens with wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku — but United’s relationship with Juventus has been strained after they pulled the plug on a swap deal involving the Belgium international and Paulo Dybala on Sunday.
Sources have also told ESPN FC that United were offered the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho over the weekend. Barcelona are keen to move on the ex-Liverpool man, who has also been linked with Tottenham, after a disappointing 18 months at Camp Nou but the Brazil international is not high up on Solskjaer’s list of priorities ahead of the deadline.
Premier League clubs can sign players up until 5 p.m. BST on Thursday while the deadline for most of Europe’s other top leagues is Sept. 2.