Manchester United have a reported transfer budget of around £55m to sign a centre-forward this summer, with Harry Kane never a ‘likely’ option.
Kane has been linked with a move to Manchester United with the forward’s contract set to expire at the end of next season and Tottenham face a decision on the 29-year-old’s future, with Kane having shown no intention of signing an extension.
Spurs run the risk of losing Kane on a free transfer next summer, but are understood to value the England captain at around £100m. That figure rules out Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail, who have set a budget of around £55m for a number nine.
Erik ten Hag has made the signing of a forward a priority this summer given the club’s over-reliance on Marcus Rashford for goals last season and the Red Devils have also been linked with Atalanta’s Rasmus Højland and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani.
The former appears a more viable option on the reported budget available, but is inexperienced with just one season of senior football in a major European league.
Kane, meanwhile, has attracted interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, with the latter reported to have held talks with the England captain’s representatives last month. Spurs would be more open to selling Kane to a foreign side, should the club’s record goalscorer push for an exit this summer.
Manchester United’s budget could change dependent on the outcome of the takeover battle to take charge at Old Trafford. Sheikh Jassim of Qatar and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe are the two front-runners.
