Manchester United are considering alternative targets to Harry Kane with the club wary of being dragged into a summer saga by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
United have been linked with a move to sign Kane as the club look to sign a centre-forward this summer, with the addition of a proven goalscorer viewed as the missing piece needed to turn Erik ten Hag’s side into title contenders.
Kane will enter the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs at the end of the season and his future has been subject of speculation. The 29-year-old has failed to win silverware in north London and the club’s Champions League exit to AC Milan effectively confirmed another campaign without major honours.
Spurs are understood to be focused on agreeing a new deal with the club’s record goalscorer, but run the risk of losing the forward for free in 2024 if an agreement is not reached before next season.
Kane – who has scored 20 league goals so far this season – appears an ideal fit for the Red Devils, but ESPN are reporting that United are considering alternative targets in addition to the England captain. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is a notoriously difficult negotiator and United do not want their pursuit of a forward to drag on until the closing stages of the transfer window.
The club’s recruitment team have placed Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic on their shortlist of striking candidates. Osimhen (24) and Vlahovic (23) would represent longer-term options than Kane and are under consideration.
Osimhen is leading scorer in Serie A this season and has been a crucial figure in Napoli’s impressive campaign, with the runaway league leaders closing in on a first Scudetto in 33 years. The Nigerian last week discussed his ‘dream’ of a move to the Premier League and has also been linked with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Vlahovic is also on the club’s radar and could be attainable given the troubles at Juventus. The Turin side were deducted 15 points earlier this season after an investigation into past transfer dealings and face a difficult task to secure Champions League football. An absence from Europe’s elite could lead to sales, with Vlahovic among the club’s most valuable assets. The Serbian has struggled with injuries this season, but has eight goals in 16 league starts.
