Roy Keane has insisted that Manchester United would be making a mistake by moving to sign Christian Eriksen from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Dane, whose contract expires at the end of this season, was strongly tipped for a move to Real Madrid over the summer, but no such deal materialised.

Reports suggested that United, as the transfer deadline approached, made a late push to sign the midfielder, who was said to have been available at a cut price of £50m.

Reflecting on Eriksen's future, Keane told Sky Sports News: "Would I take him? Not if I was manager of Man United. I think he will get a move, he's on a free, but I don't think he'll improve those teams and that's the key for a club like Man United who are trying to close the gap.

"He won't make Man United better... having said that, Man United bought Fred."

It is claimed that Spurs are open to dispensing with Eriksen over the January transfer window in order to avoid seeing him leave for free in June.

Eriksen, whose preferred destination is the Bernabeu, has also attracted attention from Juventus ahead of the winter window.