Manchester United are unwilling to get involved in a protracted transfer saga involving Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, according to a report.
Speculation surrounding the England international's long-term future in North London is beginning to intensify, with less than 18 months remaining on his contract.
Tottenham allegedly have no plans to sell Kane this summer and the striker is set to hold talks with the club's hierarchy over extending his contract at the end of the season.
However, a potential big-money transfer away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium cannot be ruled out, with Man United understood to have identified the 29-year-old as their primary striker target ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
A recent report claims that the Red Devils are prepared to make Kane the most expensive British player of all time, which would require them to fork out in excess of the £100m spent by Manchester City on Jack Grealish in 2021.
© Reuters
Erik ten Hag is on the lookout for a new centre-forward this summer as the long-term futures of Wout Weghorst and Anthony Martial are believed to be uncertain, with the former expected to leave when his loan deal from Burnley expires at the end of the season.
While Kane is said to be admired by Man United, ESPN reports that they are unprepared to engage in a prolonged pursuit of Kane in which negotiations could drag out until the latter stages of the summer transfer window.
The report refers to a source at the club which claims that Ten Hag cannot afford to begin the 2023-24 campaign without a new striker, and United are keen to avoid 'nightmare' negotiations with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who has established a reputation as a tough negotiator over the years.
Man United broke their transfer record to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham for around £30.75m on deadline day in the summer of 2008, following a lengthy spell of negotiations with Levy.
Levy was also a key figure behind Gareth Bale's world-record £85m move to Real Madrid in 2013, while the Spurs chief refused to budge from his £150m valuation of Kane in the summer of 2021 when Man City had expressed a strong interest in the striker.
© Reuters
Man United could face competition from German giants Bayern Munich in the race to sign Kane, but it is thought that the £100m-rated Englishman would prefer to continue his career in the Premier League.
Kane recently became Tottenham's all-time record goalscorer, surpassing club legend Jimmy Greaves after netting his 267th goal in a 1-0 win over Man City last month.
The striker has since increased his goal tally to 270 in 424 matches for Spurs across all competitions, with 20 of those strikes in the Premier League this season – only Erling Braut Haaland (28) has scored more.
With Kane turning 30 in July, it is thought that the upcoming summer transfer window is realistically the last chance for the Tottenham marksman to seek pastures new and join a club in the hope of boosting his chances of winning silverware for the first time in his career.
Should Man United opt against a move for Kane, Napoli striker and Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen – who has netted 19 league goals in 22 games this term – is believed to have been identified as a potential alternative.
Oliver Thomas
