Manchester United will resurrect interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen if Paul Pogba eventually leaves the club this summer.
The two midfielders’ futures have been interlinked all year, given both have made clear their desire to leave, and both see Real Madrid as a first preference.
It is now possible that the Spanish club go for neither, and Pogba’s future remains up in the air amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, but United have been making some contingency plans.
United will also push ahead with a £50m bid for Sporting’s prolific goalscoring midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Eriksen – whose contract with Tottenham runs out next year – would serve as an almost perfect alternative, and arguably an upgrade given their comparative productivity over the last few years.
1/12 How could Man United line up for 2019/20 season?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his work cut out to inspire United back to the Champions League
Manchester United via Getty Imag
2/12 David de Gea
Arguably United’s most important player, yet De Gea suffered from indifferent spells of form last season and will enter the new campaign amid uncertainty over his future. Not expected to leave this summer despite his contract expiring next summer.
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3/12 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
United’s primary summer target, Wan-Bissaka will fill a problem position if his £50m transfer form Crystal Palace is completed as expected. The 21-year-old’s arrival represents a shift towards a more long-term approach in the market.
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4/12 Victor Lindelof
Enjoyed something of a renaissance last season. Easily the most consistent and impressive of United’s centre-halves, he is the only one whose starting place is safe from the threat of new arrivals in defence.
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5/12 Harry Maguire
Coveted by Jose Mourinho last summer, United still admire Maguire’s blend of physical defending and ability to play out of the back. Manchester City are also interested in the England international and may win the race.
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6/12 Luke Shaw
Began last season on the fringes of the squad, ended as United’s player of the year. The best of a bad bunch? Maybe. But Shaw deserves credit for turning his Old Trafford career around and becoming the undisputed first-choice left back.
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7/12 Scott McTominay
Emerged as a consistent and reliable presence in the second half of last season, which is more than can be said for several of his midfield colleagues. Questions remain but deserves an opportunity to fully establish himself.
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8/12 Sean Longstaff
A surprising name but another young, homegrown target that has caught Solskjaer’s eye. Longstaff is in no rush to leave his boyhood club Newcastle United, having only broke into the side at Christmas, but United have not lost hope of getting their way.
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9/12 Bruno Fernandes
One of the most-wanted players in Europe this summer, following a return of 32 goals and 18 assists last year. Fernandes would ease the pain of losing Paul Pogba, though Sporting will ask for a hefty price.
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10/12 Daniel James
United’s first summer signing has much to prove before becoming Solskjaer’s first-choice on the right wing, though his speed and fondness for direct, counter-attacking football suit his manager’s style down to the ground.
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11/12 Marcus Rashford
It became clear early on in Solskjaer’s reign that Rashford was his preferred option up front. The academy graduate repaid him with six goals in 10 games but his form quickly faltered. A first 20-goal season may be required.
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12/12 Anthony Martial
Provided glimpses of his talent and potential, particularly following Solskjaer’s appointment, but tailed off worryingly once his future was settled with a new contract at the end of January. Appears well suited to this new-look United but must deliver consistently.
Getty Images
1/12 How could Man United line up for 2019/20 season?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his work cut out to inspire United back to the Champions League
Manchester United via Getty Imag
2/12 David de Gea
Arguably United’s most important player, yet De Gea suffered from indifferent spells of form last season and will enter the new campaign amid uncertainty over his future. Not expected to leave this summer despite his contract expiring next summer.
Getty Images
3/12 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
United’s primary summer target, Wan-Bissaka will fill a problem position if his £50m transfer form Crystal Palace is completed as expected. The 21-year-old’s arrival represents a shift towards a more long-term approach in the market.
Getty Images
4/12 Victor Lindelof
Enjoyed something of a renaissance last season. Easily the most consistent and impressive of United’s centre-halves, he is the only one whose starting place is safe from the threat of new arrivals in defence.
Getty Images
5/12 Harry Maguire
Coveted by Jose Mourinho last summer, United still admire Maguire’s blend of physical defending and ability to play out of the back. Manchester City are also interested in the England international and may win the race.
Getty Images
6/12 Luke Shaw
Began last season on the fringes of the squad, ended as United’s player of the year. The best of a bad bunch? Maybe. But Shaw deserves credit for turning his Old Trafford career around and becoming the undisputed first-choice left back.
Getty Images
7/12 Scott McTominay
Emerged as a consistent and reliable presence in the second half of last season, which is more than can be said for several of his midfield colleagues. Questions remain but deserves an opportunity to fully establish himself.
Getty Images
8/12 Sean Longstaff
A surprising name but another young, homegrown target that has caught Solskjaer’s eye. Longstaff is in no rush to leave his boyhood club Newcastle United, having only broke into the side at Christmas, but United have not lost hope of getting their way.
Getty Images
9/12 Bruno Fernandes
One of the most-wanted players in Europe this summer, following a return of 32 goals and 18 assists last year. Fernandes would ease the pain of losing Paul Pogba, though Sporting will ask for a hefty price.
Getty Images
10/12 Daniel James
United’s first summer signing has much to prove before becoming Solskjaer’s first-choice on the right wing, though his speed and fondness for direct, counter-attacking football suit his manager’s style down to the ground.
Getty Images
11/12 Marcus Rashford
It became clear early on in Solskjaer’s reign that Rashford was his preferred option up front. The academy graduate repaid him with six goals in 10 games but his form quickly faltered. A first 20-goal season may be required.
Getty Images
12/12 Anthony Martial
Provided glimpses of his talent and potential, particularly following Solskjaer’s appointment, but tailed off worryingly once his future was settled with a new contract at the end of January. Appears well suited to this new-look United but must deliver consistently.
Getty Images
The Dane doesn’t have the commercial appeal of Pogba, however, which has played into the difference in price and status.
Eriksen and his camp would be put off by the fact United are not in the Champions League, but the Old Trafford feel they may be able to leverage the situation if there is no movement – and no new contract – before the window ends. The saga is likely to run right until the end of the window.
Just as with Pogba, the possibility of Eriksen staying at Tottenham is not impossible, as he has a huge contract offer on the table with a club in a much better position than United right now.
United will meanwhile persist with the pursuits of Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff as well as Fernandes.
