According to Paul Hirst of The Times, Harry Kane is on Manchester United’s striker shortlist for the summer. The three-man list also includes Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Slovenian wonderkid Benjamin Sesko. The Red Devils have signed Burnley frontman Wout Weghorst on loan for the remainder of the season, but are seeking a long-term goal-scorer.
Harry Kane Joins Three-Man Striker Shortlist at Manchester United
🔺NEW: Manchester United are weighing up a summer move for Harry Kane, with the Tottenham Hotspur striker featuring on a shortlist of candidates that also includes Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko https://t.co/6zaPUKSzpU
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) January 20, 2023
Manchester United Searching for Goals
United’s revival under Erik ten Hag has been impressive to date. When the Premier League season started with a home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, followed by a 4-0 humiliation at Brentford, many thought this campaign could be another new low. However, the recovery from that point has been remarkable. They are now fourth in the league with a game in hand on third-placed Newcastle United and closing in on rivals Manchester City. The players’ tactical awareness and desire have shown marked improvement, and results are showing on the pitch.
However, they are lacking in the goal-scoring department. Marcus Rashford is their top scorer in the league with eight goals. By comparison, Kane has 15 in the league, Osimhen has 12, and Sesko five. As a team they have scored 20 fewer goals than their local rivals, demonstrating where their weakness lies.
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The loan signing of Weghorst also shows a shift in transfer policy. This approach indicates a higher level of planning and a refusal to commit to large deals for players who are not the perfect fit. They are taking their time in weighing up options and finding the deal that best suits the club.
Harry Kane in Tottenham Hotspur Contract Standoff
Kane is Tottenham through and through and has made it clear he would love to win trophies with the club. However, the question remains as to whether they can compete at the level his ability deserves. The club appear to have matched his ambitions with managerial appointments. However several elite bosses have come to the club and failed to win any trophies.
Chairman Daniel Levy’s inability to deliver each manager’s top transfer targets has been a constant criticism. The topic came to a head in 2021 when Kane was said to want to leave amid strong links to Manchester City.
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Kane’s current contract at Tottenham runs until the end of next season. Levy has in the past made it clear the club want to keep their captain whatever the cost. However, if he does not agree to a new contract, they could be forced to cash in on their prized 281-goal asset in the summer.
Sesko and Osimhen Situations
Benjamin Sesko was the subject of a lot of attention in the summer. He is tipped to be one of the best strikers of the next 10 years and was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford. Despite this, he agreed a deal to join RB Leipzig from his current club RB Salzburg at the end of this season. According to Hirst, though, United are exploring the possibility of persuading all parties to cancel the agreement by offering more money.
Napoli also beat out a number of suitors to sign Victor Osimhen in 2020 for over £60 million. He has since scored 36 goals in 65 Serie A appearances, and at 24 years old he is also a signing that would fit into the long-term project at Old Trafford.
