Erik ten Hag insists that Manchester United will need a "very good plan" to stop Harry Kane on Thursday night - before he makes a move to sign him.
United boss Ten Hag has privately identified Kane, 29, as his top target ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Tottenham striker's future in the spotlight and only 14 months left on his current contract. The Red Devils plan to open talks with Spurs over a deal and offer him a £300,000-a-week salary, but first their task will be stop him from adding to his tally of 24 Premier League goals this season when the two teams meet.
"We have a plan for him and, in the home game, we did it very well, so for tomorrow we need a very good plan as well," Ten Hag told a press conference. "He's a clever player, don't allow him to come into the situations, as he can have a big impact."
United were admirers of Kane long before Ten Hag was appointed last summer, but now the Dutchman is reported to be obsessed with the idea of signing the 29-year-old. Tottenham are said to value him at £100million, although clubs from Europe could sign him for £80m as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy weighs up whether to sell Kane this summer or risk losing him on a free transfer next year.
The England captain attempted to a force a move to Manchester City in 2021 but was left disappointed when the reigning Premier League champions refused meet Levy's asking price, which at the time was understood to be around £130m. Now running down his contract, Kane would likely be more attainable this time around.
As for other suitors besides Ten and co, Bayern Munich are interested, with the German giants still without a replacement for Robert Lewandowski after his departure to Barcelona at the beginning the season. Both Bayern and United have Napoli hotshot Victor Osimhen on their shortlist as an alternative.
Have your say! Should Manchester United pay £100m to sign Harry Kane? Give us your stance in the comments section.
Five years younger than Kane and comfortably leading the goalscoring charts in Serie A with 21 strikes, Nigeria international Osimhen has been pivotal in Napoli's title challenge which looks set to end in success with plenty of games spare. Like Kane, however, the Italian champions elect could ask for more than £100m in order to part ways with their prolific No.9.
Ten Hag is certainly intent on signing a new striker, with current options Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst simply not cutting it this campaign. The talented Martial continues to be plagued by injuries, while divisive Dutch marksman Weghorst has scored just two goals in 24 games since joining the Red Devils on loan from Burnley during the January transfer window.
