Manchester United have made a new striker one of their top priorities for the summer and HITC understands that there is a concrete interest in Harry Kane.
The club’s new footballing department is not yet complete, but Manchester United remain convinced that their number one target for sporting director, Dan Ashworth, will be in place by the start of next season but that does not mean they are waiting on that appointment before pressing ahead with plans.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS outfit have already begun work on many aspects of the club and their sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford has been carrying out an audit of the club’s situation, including what they need to do in the summer.
Sources have now confirmed to HITC that a striker will be signed, whilst a central midfielder and right-sided centre-half will also be brought in, but they are tied to the futures, or lack of one, to some of the current squad.
Striker wise the club are very happy with Danish starlet Rasmus Hojlund who, after a very tough start, has started to show the sort of form that his £64million plus price tag warranted.
However, the club’s coaching staff and hierarchy are in line with the belief they need another and sources suggest that ideally that would be an ‘experienced front-man’ who could even help Hojlund – if one was available.
Kane option
And it is understood that Kane is seen as the ideal option by United. The club were very much in for Kane before his move to Bayern Munich. His move to Germany has been a huge success on a personal front for the England captain – he is currently averaging a goal-a-game with 31 from 31 games.
United realise that getting Kane would be difficult if not impossible, but it is believed Ratcliffe and INEOS are used to completing multi-million deals and rarely take no for an answer, and no matter they will insist on investigating the possibility before moving on to other targets.
In terms of other summer business, much will depend on who they manage to sell. HITC is told by sources that ‘very few’ of the current squad are ‘untouchable’ when it comes to moving them on.
Indeed, that means that someone like Marcus Rashford – who only signed a new long-term contract at the start of the season – would be allowed to leave. He has not taken up the role expected of him within the squad as a senior figure, and the club would be open to his exit.
They want a new central defender, a right sider as HITC has revealed, and it is understood that Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini and Everton’s Jarrod Branthwaite are top of their list. They do also like Jean-Claire Todibo – but the fact he is with INEOS’ other club Nice is an issue, and one they are still assessing.
They will make room in defence by moving on Raphael Varane, whilst they would also consider offers for Victor Lindelof – who they took up a year’s option on earlier this year.
They also want a midfielder and that will be dependent on the future of Casemiro – who they will not stand in the way of, and there is interest in him in Saudi Arabia. The same is true of Christian Eriksen, who was linked with a move to Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Big name departures
Casemiro and Rashford are not the only big names who the club will allow to leave. Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood are both highly unlikely to be back in United red next season, whilst the future of Brazilian winger Anthony is ‘up in air’ as the club have been disappointed with his progress.
It is understood that United believe they now have a core, including home-grown talent – who the team will be built around going forward, including Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – who have come on leaps and bounds this season.
As HITC revealed, the current plan for United is that they give Erik Ten Hag a chance to build. Ratcliffe personally believes Ten Hag has managed the squad well despite a number of issues – although ultimately the club’s finishing position will dictate his situation.
Ten Hag has assured Ratcliffe and Brailsford that he is looking forward to working with Ashworth and new CEO Omar Berrada, as that is the system he has come from at his previous roles and one he would like to return to, enabling him to concentrate on team matters and coaching.
The club leaned on the Dutchman for his experiences in the transfer market last summer, but he insists that was only the case because of the sub-standard nature of the club’s hierarchy and Ratcliffe and INEOS acknowledge this.
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