Manchester United have already started Harry Kane transfer pursuit

Manchester United appear to have already started their pursuit of Harry Kane, with both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Harry Maguire going on a charm offensive. The Tottenham star could quit the club in the summer transfer window. And, with Anthony Martial misfiring and Edinson Cavani potentially about to leave, a move to Old Trafford may be on the cards.

Kane has done well for Tottenham, scoring 19 goals from 28 games amid a difficult Premier League campaign.

And he could be about to leave the club behind at the end of the campaign, with reports suggesting he’s eyeing a departure.

Kane is approaching the peak years of his career and, with no trophies to show for his efforts so far, he’s mulling over a new challenge elsewhere.

Manchester United are firmly in the mix to land the striker, especially with Martial struggling for consistency and Cavani’s future currently being up in the air.

And, ahead of the summer transfer window, it seems as though the Red Devils have already started their pursuit by going on a charm offensive.

Solskjaer has claimed the England international ‘is one of the best centre forwards in European football’.

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Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League showdown with Tottenham on Sunday, the Norwegian said: “When you’re playing against one of the best centre forwards in European football, of course it’s something that we prepare for.

“I think every team when they play Tottenham or England, you know Harry Kane’s qualities.

“But we prepare the defenders for every single opponent. The season that Son and Kane have had, their relationship is one of Tottenham’s strengths and they have other quality players we have to be aware of.”

Maguire, meanwhile, thinks Kane is one of the best players on the planet.

“I want to play in the biggest games possible against the best players – that’s why I joined this club,” Maguire said.

“Harry is one of those (players). I know him from England really well. He’s a top striker, one of the best in the world and he does it season after season, scores goals after goals.

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“He’ll be ready for battle and I’ll be ready for battle. May the best man win.

“It’s not just individuals, it’s a team effort. As a defensive unit we’ve got to be strong, go there and get a clean sheet and give the team the best opportunity to win the game.”

Solskjaer doesn’t like to speak about transfer targets publicly.

But, when there’s legitimate interest, the Norwegian sometimes lets his mask slip – and this seems like one of those times.

Solskjaer publicly hailed Jack Grealish last year, with United hoping to sign the Aston Villa star at the time.

They would have done, too, had Dean Smith’s side not stayed in the Premier League – forcing the Red Devils into snapping up Donny van de Beek form Ajax instead.

The United manager has also been happy to praise Erling Haaland, too, who is another name under consideration behind the scenes at Old Trafford.

And whether their charm offensive when it comes to Kane helps persuade the Tottenham star into moving to Old Trafford, despite interest from Manchester City, remains to be seen.

While United have Kane in their sights, however, Paul Scholes thinks they should go after Haaland instead.

“First and foremost, they need a number nine,” he recently said.

“I think the forwards they have are very good, but are any of them really a number nine, are they wide players? You just can’t make sense out of it, really.

“When [Edinson] Cavani’s played, he’s looked alright, but he’s picked up a few injuries. He’s at that age, it was always going to happen, he was always going to be bit-part.

“They need someone who is more permanent. I know Haaland is talked about a lot, he’s going to cost a lot of money. Harry Kane at Spurs, there are rumours that he might want to leave there.

“I think any one of them, you take any one of them, but I think if I had to choose, then Haaland would definitely be the one.

“Purely for his age, his ability, the timing of his career, he’s played under Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] before. I think it would make sense for everyone to do it, but there’s going to be other clubs in for him, so it will be difficult.

“I like Kane, I think he’s brilliant. When he first came onto the scene, I likened him to Ruud [van Nistelrooy], he’s a ruthless finisher, desperate to score goals.

“I just think at the stages of each one’s career, then you get more out of Haaland.”

source: express.co.uk