Manchester United have identified England captain Harry Kane as their priority target for the summer window and time will tell if they can strike up business with Tottenham for his signature.
Having sanctioned moves for nine players during his maiden season at the helm, either permanently or on loan deals, Erik ten Hag wants two major recruits when the market reopens. The Manchester Evening News understands the Dutchman has eyes on a central midfielder as well as pursuing Kane.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is notoriously fierce in the boardroom and the north Londoners might not be willing to play ball with another Premier League team. Germany heavyweights Bayern Munich are also thought to be in the mix for the prolific 29-year-old amid mounting speculation over his domestic future.
READ MORE: United make Kane priority target
However, the prospect of seeing Kane line up alongside England teammate Marcus Rashford and other United stars is mouth-watering. Here are three possible starting XIs should he arrive at Old Trafford;
Barring any further additions, this is probably as strong as United could go for any one-off game and you have to factor in preferred choices at the time. Kane being flanked by in-form Rashford would certainly increase the goal threat United pose, while Christian Eriksen formed a deadly link-up with the England captain during their time together at Tottenham. With scope for further additions - plus Diogo Dalot, Fred, Jadon Sancho and rising starlet Alejandro Garnacho on the bench (among others) - the squad is shaping up nicely.
While his starting line-up has, generally, been settled when injuries or suspensions have not been at play, Ten Hag does have form for a wildcard selection. Despite being loaned in as the stop-gap replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, frontman Wout Weghorst has from time-to-time been deployed in the number 10 position to enable United to pose a bigger threat in behind with Rashford as their central striker. Kane naturally drops into deeper areas than Ronaldo, for example, and would offer Ten Hag additional flexibility in that regard.
Although the Dutchman has rarely strayed from his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, United do have scope to deploy wing-backs from the start or when changing things up in-game, especially if they snap-up Kane as the England captain would be able to dovetail with Rashford in attacking quarters. It would rely on United sacrificing their two wider attacking players, but support from the flanks - namely wing-backs Dalot and Luke Shaw - would be helped by Bruno Fernandes pretty much getting free reign through the middle.
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