Manchester United are pursuing an audacious late move for Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen is keen for a new challenge and United are interested in trying to strike a deal before the transfer window closes at 5pm on Thursday.

The Denmark midfielder, 27, has been linked with a number of top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Juventus and Atletico Madrid, but Tottenham have yet to receive a formal bid and United are hoping that may encourage Spurs to compromise on price.

Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, would prefer to sell Eriksen overseas rather than to a direct rival but he is also reluctant to allow such a valuable asset to leave for nothing when his contract expires next summer.

United would have to pay a significantly higher fee than a European suitor to land Eriksen but, with less than 72 hours before the close of the window, there is hope Levy would accept much less than the £130m English clubs were being quoted at the end of last season.