Barcelona are ready to step up their interest in Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen.

Barca, reports El Mundo Deportivo, see the Dane as an alternative to Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho.

Barca sports chief Robert Fernandez made a scouting check on Eriksen this week at Real Madrid and came away impressed.

Robert knows they can sign Eriksen for less than Coutinho and he appears a more natural replacement for skipper Andres Iniesta.

Eriksen has long-term ties with Barca, having trialed with the Catalans as a teenager.