Manchester United look set to hand Tottenham a wake up call regarding the future of Harry Kane. The 29-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer but, with the Lilywhites eager to hold onto the striker, Pep Guardiola's side welcomed Erling Haaland to the Etihad Stadium instead.
Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Erik ten Hag is in the market for a new striker to lead the line at Old Trafford. After spending over £200million in the summer, the Red Devils are said to be looking for a shrewd acquisition before securing a long-term replacement for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner at the end of the season.
Burnley forward Wout Weghorst, who is currently on loan at Besiktas, has emerged as a surprise short-term target for United. But, the Netherlands international is said to not be the long-term solution Ten Hag is looking for - instead, the Red Devils boss has shortlisted three candidates ahead of the summer.
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And, according to ESPN, Kane is a priority target for United alongside Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko. However, the report states that United will only launch a move for the Spurs captain 'if he opts against signing a new contract'.
The England international sees his deal at Hotspur Way expire in 18 months and there has already been dispute among pundits as to whether he should stick or twist. Speaking on talkSPORT in the summer, Danny Murphy encouraged Kane to pen a new contract with the Lilywhites.
"If I was Kane, I would be signing and saying, ‘I’m here. This is me'," said the former Liverpool midfielder. "If he waits and sees it out, he’ll be 31. Two years down the line, you never know what’s going to happen.
"He’s had injury problems, he’s a huge guy. Does it cause a problem in his relationship with the fans if he doesn’t sign a new deal by the end of the season?"
Simon Jordan claimed that Kane, who is valued at £61.7million by CIES Football Observatory, should wait to secure a move from Spurs this summer, with the striker set to be available for a cut-price fee. He said: "I’d wait until next year. See where Conte is sat and see what the progress of the team is.
"He’s got one move left. He’s either going to stay or he’s going to move. At 30-years of age, he’ll be just under 30 when the season finishes, there is still a move in him.
"If someone of a significant stature, in the Champions League, wants to win a league, you could see him going. Although it would be difficult to go to Chelsea if they were that particular club."
"I wouldn’t want to run the clock down to go on a free transfer, I would want to put the pressure back on Tottenham, knowing that there’s a need for them to do something. I would want a release clause in the contract, so if things go wrong, [Antonio] Conte disappears, all the wheels come off… I can move. I would want it all ways and up."
In the summer Conte encouraged Kane to extend his future at Tottenham. The Spurs boss said: "You know very well that you create the perfect time (for a contract extension) with a project,” the Italian said.
"If also the player understands that there is a right process, that everybody is going in the same direction, I think every single player wants to see this. And I think that Harry for sure is happy because he is seeing this type of situation.
"There is a vision, there is a direction and there is a unity to try to improve the team and also to improve the team at the level of his expectations."
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