Manchester United to bid £40m for Harry Kane

Manchester United are interested in signing Tottenham striker Harry Kane this summer, according to Sky sources. United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward knows the club needs to land a marquee signing this summer and rising star Kane has emerged as that player.

After they refused to permanently sign Radamel Falcao, and with Robin van Persie’s future at the club uncertain, United are in desperate need to buy a striker. And reports suggest that the young English sensation Harry Kane is United’s top priority, after Karim Benzema pledged his loyalty to Real Madrid.

Kane had a wonderful breakthrough season at White Hart Lane, in which he scored 31 goals for Spurs in all competitions and was voted as the PFA Young Player of the Year.

According to some reports, United are willing to spend around £40m for the 21-year old striker, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will only consider bids in excess of £50m for the striker. Levy is known to drive a hard bargain, but has shown in the past that he is willing to sell his biggest stars if the price is right, the latest examples being Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.

Sky Sports News HQ reporter James Cooper was told Kane was not on United’s radar last month but the Red Devils have now revised their stance on the Spurs forward.

“It is a search for a striker that now includes Harry Kane and that is interesting,” said Cooper.

“Things have changed in the last three or four weeks. He wasn’t on Manchester United’s radar then but I think he is now.

“He is on the list of possible deals that Manchester United might be tempted into doing this summer.

“What Manchester United are doing is looking at all their options. There certainly has been no bid at the moment between Old Trafford and White Hart Lane and no real negotiations at all.

“But what has shifted is that Manchester United have interest in the player. He is under consideration by Louis van Gaal.”

Spurs are not interested to sell the player who renewed his contract in February, with the striker himself insisting that he has no intention leaving the club.

“Spurs are a big club and I have a bright future here,” Kane said. “I hope to continue scoring goals and doing well with the club.”

But the prospect of playing in the Champions League might be a major factor for triggering the striker’s move to United.

Van Gaal is willing to spend big on someone as gifted and prolific as Kane, who is with Gareth Southgate’s England under-21 squad preparing for the start of the European Championship in the Czech Republic.