Manchester United are ready to wait until the end of the season to land Christian Eriksen on a free transfer. The Tottenham midfielder is running down his contract and is among the players United are following closely in the second half of the season, along with Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish.

Eriksen, 27, has made it clear he will not join Toby Alderweireld in signing a new deal at Spurs following Jose Mourinho’s arrival at the club and he can start talking next week to foreign clubs over a pre-contract.

He could leave in the January transfer window for the right price but clubs are aware the £40million-rated player will be available on a free transfer within six months.

United are monitoring the Denmark international and believe they can land him when his deal at Spurs expires in the summer, making him one of the most high-profile free transfers in the Premier League.

They secured Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free for Mourinho in 2016. Since then Aaron Ramsey has left Arsenal for Juventus on a Bosman, while between English clubs James Milner moved from Manchester City to Liverpool.