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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.
How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire?Show all 12 1 /12How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? How could Manchester United line up for 2019/20 season? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen a summer rebuild at Manchester United, with Harry Maguire becoming his latest recruit.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? Aaron Wan-Bissaka Wan-Bissaka fills a problem position following his £50m transfer from Crystal Palace. The 21-year-old’s arrival represents a shift towards a more long-term approach in the market.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? Harry Maguire Coveted by Jose Mourinho last summer, Maguire has finally completed the switch to Old Trafford and become the world's most expensive defender.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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, and £50m asking price may prove too steep.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? Paul Pogba Despite agitating for a move away, Pogba appears set to stay at United. The club are determined to keep their prize asset and will not sanction a move unless his high asking price is met.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? Daniel James Capable of playing on either the left or right wing, James is a largely unproven but nevertheless exciting talent. Glimpses of his potential were seen in pre-season.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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.
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How will Manchester United line up with Harry Maguire? 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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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.
Eriksen is a target for United (REUTERS) 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.
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