Confirmation of Manchester United monitoring Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane ahead of the summer should not come as too great a surprise.
For all of United's impressive progress under Erik ten Hag this season, putting the ball in the back of the net at a frequent enough rate is a problem that continues to trouble them. They are the second-lowest scorers in the top half of the Premier League table, with only shot-shy Chelsea scoring fewer.
The Reds' tally of just 30 goals in the first half of the season, though it has not hindered their aspirations of achieving a top-four finish so far, is a key statistic that highlights their greatest need ahead of being expected to loosen the purse strings again in the summer. They have strengthened their attacking options this month with the loan signing of Wout Weghorst, but he is not the long-term answer to United's search for a world-class striker.
