This summer, Manchester United are primed to pursue a blockbuster deal for Tottenham striker Harry Kane. However, the England international may already be at Old Trafford if it wasn’t for Mason Greenwood. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rated the youngster so highly he actually decided against moving for Kane, instead thinking the Red Devils No 11 would be the club’s centre-forward for many years to come.
Manchester United want a new forward this summer, fully aware they need a world-class replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo – who left the club back in November.
And while Victor Osimhen and Goncalo Ramos have been linked, amid their positive displays for Napoli and Benfica respectively, Kane is the club’s No 1 target.
United are huge admirers of the England international, with interest actually dating back to Louis van Gaal’s time in the dugout.
Not everybody at the club has been sold on the idea of recruiting the Tottenham hitman, however.
Back in 2020, it emerged Solskjaer had actually opted against landing Kane because he was worried about the impact it would have on Greenwood and his development.
The forward was just 18 at the time but had burst onto the scene, impressing alongside Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in attack.
Man Utd takeover: Man Utd making plans for five players
And even though Tottenham have endured a turbulent year so far, he’s still bagged 24 goals from 40 games.
Marcus Rashford is the only player at United who has bettered that tally, with the 25-year-old on 28 for the season after his latest against Brentford on Wednesday night.
Landing Kane won’t be straightforward, however.
Tottenham are likely to demand a huge fee to let their talisman go, with the 29-year-old’s deal due to expire in the summer of 2024.
And Spurs haven’t sold a single player to United since Dimitar Berbatov, who crossed the divide nearly 15 years ago.
Sir Alex Ferguson wanted Luke Modric in 2012, with David Moyes then eyeing Gareth Bale the following year.
Want the latest football news? Join our brand new Facebook group by clicking here
With Tottenham chief Daniel Levy reluctant to do business, however, both players were flogged to Real Madrid instead.
And Jose Mourinho missed out on two Spurs players during his own stint at Old Trafford, with pursuits of Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld failing to pay off.
Former United star Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, recently implored Kane to make his feelings on a move to the Red Devils clear.
“I reckon Chelsea this summer go for Osimhen,” Ferdinand told his FIVE YouTube channel.
“Man United are going for Harry Kane. Harry Kane isn’t going to Chelsea from Spurs, no chance.”
He then added: “If you play football as a young kid, what is your goal? To win trophies.
“That doesn’t change as you get older, you want to win trophies, if you can. Not everyone has the opportunity because they don’t play for the right clubs, then you start changing your goals.
“He is at Spurs, who want to win trophies. They can’t, they don’t. Since the Champions League final, they have gone backwards in terms of the way they are playing and closeness to winning things. They are nowhere near it.
“But you have to ask him the question, that is the questioning we need answering from him. Tell us man, ‘I want to be a one club man, I want to have the statue outside, I’m Mr Spurs’. We will all say, well played, that’s fine. But there is a chance to come here now, to Man United.
“I would love him to, but the problem you have got is Levy, what price is he going to ask for.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
