Manchester United aren’t anticipating making a £120million move for Harry Kane this summer – preferring to target the signing of England winger Jadon Sancho and waiting 12 months to try and land Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former player Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund as their long-term number nine.
Solskjaer started work for next season within hours of United’s Europa Cup final defeat against Villarreal on Wednesday night and has formulated a plan with new director of football John Murtough that doesn’t include England captain Kane.
The recent extension of Edinson Cavani’s contract means chasing a centre-forward is regarded less of an immediate priority than Sancho as a right-sided attacker.
Sancho, 21, has been in sensational recent form for Dortumund, helping them win the German Cup and qualify for the Champions League with 10 goals in his last 15 games.
The former Manchester City academy graduate could command a fee close to Paul Pogba’s British record £89 million and United will only be in a position to make one mega-signing due with the club having lost £150million in the pandemic and no guarantees so far of stadiums being allowed to operate at full capacity next season.
Solskaer has told his bosses forward options of Sancho, Cavani, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial would make United competitive challenging for major trophies against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea next season.
Though Kane has made it clear he would like to explore a future away from Tottenham to win trophies, he has still three years left on his contract which allows Daniel Levy to drive a hard bargain, with United reluctant to be drawn into a costly auction with City given a main striker is not their top priority.
Solskjaer will be allowed to add three other squad players besides Sancho and the availability of Haaland, Europe’s hottest young striker, in a year’s time allows United time to try and work the charm offensive on him.
Haaland, who was born in England and started his career under Solskjaer at Molde, has indicated he will stay another season with Dortmund when it’s believed he will have a £65million release clause – lower than his market value.
Though United will face competition from Real Madrid, Solskaer’s personal relationship with the family may work in his favour, and he’ll hope to prove to Haaland next season that United are a match for anyone in the Premier League and Europe.
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