Tottenham are determined to buy an alternative to Christian Eriksen in case they are forced to sell the Dane after the close of the English transfer window.

The club have sent a delegation to Portugal to explore the possibility of signing Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes, while they remain in talks with Real Betis for playmaker Giovani Lo Celso.

Spurs will not sign both players but are determined to secure one or the other, as a long-term replacement for Eriksen, before the window shuts at 5pm next Thursday. Expectation is fading that Eriksen, who scored in Wednesday’s friendly against Bayern Munich, will agree a new contract — which has one year left to run — despite the offer of a lucrative deal that would make him one of Tottenham’s best-paid players.

The 27-year-old has said he wants a “new challenge” and is interested in joining a title challenger in Spain, although he has made it clear he will remain at Spurs if the right club does not make an offer.

Spanish clubs have until August 31 to sign players and Spurs are conscious that they may have to sell Eriksen after Thursday’s deadline, rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer. They are therefore intensifying plans to sign Fernandes or Lo Celso.

Betis are holding out for Lo Celsco’s full £88million release clause, with 20 per cent of any fee due to his former club Paris Saint-Germain. Spurs are willing to pay closer to £60m.

Sporting reportedly want £64m for Fernandes, 24, who scored 23 goals from midfield for Sporting and Portugal last season and is also admired by Manchester United.

Tottenham squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 27 show all Tottenham squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 1/27 We run you through Tottenham's squad for the 2019-20 season... Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/27 Hugo Lloris Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 AFP/Getty Images 3/27 Toby Alderweireld Squad Number: 4



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 REUTERS 4/27 Jan Vertonghen Squad Number: 5



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Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Getty Images 5/27 Davinson Sanchez Squad Number: 6



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 6/27 Heung-min Son Squad Number: 7



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 EPA 7/27 Harry Winks Squad Number: 8



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 8/27 Harry Kane Squad Number: 10



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 9/27 Erik Lamela Squad Number: 11



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 REUTERS 10/27 Eric Dier Squad Number: 15



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Action Images via Reuters 11/27 Kyle Walker-Peters Squad Number: 16



Condition: Fit (On loan at Southampton)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Action Images via Reuters 12/27 Moussa Sissoko Squad Number: 17



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 13/27 Giovani Lo Celso Squad Number: 18



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 14/27 Ryan Sessegnon Squad Number: 19



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Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 15/27 Dele Alli Squad Number: 20



Condition: Hamstring (In contention)



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 AFP/Getty Images 16/27 Juan Foyth Squad Number: 21



Condition: Knee injury (ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images 17/27 Paulo Gazzaniga Squad Number: 22



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images 18/27 Steven Bergwijn Squad Number: 23



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Contract expires: 30/06/2025 REUTERS 19/27 Serge Aurier Squad Number: 24



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 20/27 Lucas Moura Squad Number: 27



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Action Images via Reuters 21/27 Tanguy Ndombele Squad Number: 28



Condition: Knee injury (ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 22/27 Gedson Fernandes Squad Number: 30



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Contract expires: On loan until summer 2021 Getty Images 23/27 Ben Davies Squad Number: 33



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 24/27 Oliver Skipp Squad Number: 52



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Action Images via Reuters 25/27 Troy Parrott Squad Number: 52



Condition: Fit (lacking match fitness)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 26/27 Danny Rose Squad Number: 3



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 REUTERS 27/27 Japhet Tanganga Squad Number: 39



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Getty Images/Tottenham Hotspur FC 1/27 We run you through Tottenham's squad for the 2019-20 season... Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/27 Hugo Lloris Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 AFP/Getty Images 3/27 Toby Alderweireld Squad Number: 4



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 REUTERS 4/27 Jan Vertonghen Squad Number: 5



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Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Getty Images 5/27 Davinson Sanchez Squad Number: 6



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 6/27 Heung-min Son Squad Number: 7



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 EPA 7/27 Harry Winks Squad Number: 8



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 8/27 Harry Kane Squad Number: 10



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 9/27 Erik Lamela Squad Number: 11



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 REUTERS 10/27 Eric Dier Squad Number: 15



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Action Images via Reuters 11/27 Kyle Walker-Peters Squad Number: 16



Condition: Fit (On loan at Southampton)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Action Images via Reuters 12/27 Moussa Sissoko Squad Number: 17



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 13/27 Giovani Lo Celso Squad Number: 18



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 14/27 Ryan Sessegnon Squad Number: 19



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 15/27 Dele Alli Squad Number: 20



Condition: Hamstring (In contention)



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 AFP/Getty Images 16/27 Juan Foyth Squad Number: 21



Condition: Knee injury (ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images 17/27 Paulo Gazzaniga Squad Number: 22



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images 18/27 Steven Bergwijn Squad Number: 23



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 REUTERS 19/27 Serge Aurier Squad Number: 24



Condition: Fit (on compassionate leave)



Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 20/27 Lucas Moura Squad Number: 27



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Action Images via Reuters 21/27 Tanguy Ndombele Squad Number: 28



Condition: Knee injury (ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 22/27 Gedson Fernandes Squad Number: 30



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Contract expires: On loan until summer 2021 Getty Images 23/27 Ben Davies Squad Number: 33



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 24/27 Oliver Skipp Squad Number: 52



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Action Images via Reuters 25/27 Troy Parrott Squad Number: 52



Condition: Fit (lacking match fitness)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 26/27 Danny Rose Squad Number: 3



Condition: Fit (On loan at Newcastle)



Contract expires: 30/06/2021 REUTERS 27/27 Japhet Tanganga Squad Number: 39



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Getty Images/Tottenham Hotspur FC

Spurs remain hopeful of signing Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon in the next week too, with the deal not believed to be dependent on Danny Rose’s future.

Transfer-listed Rose returned to the squad for the Audi Cup this week and, again, Spurs are conscious that most of the interest has come from overseas clubs, such as PSG and Juventus, who have until the end of the month to add to their squads.

Sessegnon, 19, has one year left on his Fulham contract and his versatility is such that he would still be a useful member of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad if Rose stays put.

Spurs’ attempts to overhaul the Argentine’s squad have been hampered by trouble offloading Rose, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Serge Aurier and Victor Wanyama in a stale summer transfer market.