Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Tottenham Hotspur should target Chelsea ace Romelu Lukaku if Harry Kane leaves, amid reported interest from Manchester United in a transfer.
The Red Devils are set for a major revamp at the end of the season once they appoint their next permanent head coach. Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is likely to land the task of reviving the Old Trafford outfit’s fallen status, with Sky Sports reporting he impressed in his interview.
Targets are already being outlined for the summer market, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick overseeing an unconvincing top-four challenge. The Athletic report Manchester United still admire Kane, after Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy priced them out of his move last year.
Tottenham are likely to want at least £100m to sell Kane this summer after the 28-year-old revived his season. But the Red Devils may again struggle to meet Levy’s price tag, as Pete O’Rourke adds Old Trafford chiefs are studying what stars they can offer in part-exchange.
Bent doubts Kane will leave his former side so long as Antonio Conte remains in charge at Tottenham this summer. Yet Fabio Santini has claimed Conte ‘does not stay in London’ as he is speaking with Paris Saint-Germain, and will want to take Lukaku with him to France.
Bent tells Tottenham ‘no on better’ than Chelsea’s Lukaku to replace Harry Kane
Many dominos are still to fall to determine if Kane, or Conte, stays at Tottenham this year, but Bent would urge Levy to target Lukaku if the former departs amid Manchester United’s transfer interest. The 28-year-old hit 64 goals in 95 games under the Italian for Inter Milan.
“As long as Antonio Conte’s there, I don’t think Harry Kane would go anywhere,” Bent said. “But if worse came to worse and Harry Kane did leave and go elsewhere, if they can get Lukaku, you’ve seen what Conte can get out of Romelu Lukaku.
“Even down to his nutrition, because that was the best I’ve ever seen him look, last season and at the start of this season. If there was an opportunity and Kane leaves and Conte can get Lukaku, I’d go out all day to get it, all day.
“There’d be no one better to replace Harry Kane. I know they’re completely different in terms of players, Harry Kane dropping in and [is] technically a better footballer, but Lukaku would be an adequate replacement, certainly with what he did with Conte already.”
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