Manchester United have started to make attempts to find out what it will take to sign Harry Kane with increasing expectation that the striker will not sign a new Tottenham Hotspur contract this summer.
Telegraph Sport understands that United plans to bid for Kane and that the due diligence on what his price tag might be and how to handle negotiations with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has already begun.
The prospect of United making a serious offer for Kane is a nightmare for Levy, who looks to be faced with the decision of whether to sell Tottenham’s star player this summer or risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season.
United are Tottenham’s next opponents on Thursday night, when Levy might receive the most hostile atmosphere he has ever experienced from furious fans over his running of the club,
Kane’s current contract will have 12 months remaining on it at the end of this season, and, while his advisors have not commented on his situation, Tottenham sources believe there is currently little chance of the striker recommitting himself to Spurs this summer.
United are already well aware of how difficult Levy will be to negotiate with over Kane and that they cannot afford a chase that lasts until the last day of the summer transfer window while risking missing out on other targets such as Napoli’s Victor Osimhen in the meantime.
That is why the Old Trafford club have started work now to try to establish the best way to make an early move for Kane and give themselves time to switch back to Osimhen or somebody else if Levy digs his heels in and is prepared to risk the England captain’s contract running down.
Bayern Munich are also in the market for a striker this summer with Kane and Osimhen at the top of new head coach Thomas Tuchel’s wishlist, but it is believed Kane would rather stay in England and continue to chase Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record.
Sources believe that while Levy might be prepared to listen to an offer in the region of £80million from overseas for Kane, that he will demand at least £100m from English clubs and may even decide to reject all bids from the Premier League.
Chelsea’s move to make Mauricio Pochettino the club’s new permanent head coach will almost certainly spark speculation of the Argentine trying to reunite with Kane at Stamford Bridge. But such a scenario is rated as extremely unlikely given the rivalry that exists between the two clubs
Despite scoring his team’s consolation goal, Kane cut a disconsolate figure in Tottenham’s humiliating 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle United on Sunday, with the club’s top-four hopes slipping away and the threat of missing out on European qualification entirely growing.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fears he could be out for some time with the injury that forced him off at half-time against Newcastle, with sources insisting the problem was legitimate despite suggestions he should have carried on from some pundits.
The mood at Tottenham is now described as being as bad as it has ever been during Levy’s reign, with players and staff said to be losing faith and hope in the running and direction of the club.
Although he is well liked on a human level, players were bewildered that Antonio Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini remained at the club as acting head coach after the Italian left and have been left stunned by some of his decision making – including reverting to a back four on Sunday.
Fabio Paratici resigned as managing director of football last week, meaning that Levy is now leading the hunt for a new permanent head coach himself. Tottenham are believed to have made contact with Luis Enrique, but he was recommended by Paratici and it is unclear whether or not his departure will affect interest in the Spaniard.
Julian Nagglesmann, who would be Tottenham’s first choice, has been linked with the club again since he dropped out of the running for the Chelsea vacancy. But it is believed Nagglesmann would want cast-iron assurances over the size of the wage bill and the quality of players he would be able to rebuild as part of a squad.
Feyenoord’s Arne Slot and Burnley’s Vincent Kompany are also thought to be of interest to Tottenham, along with Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou, but the uncertainty surrounding the hunt for a new coach is unlikely to help the situation regarding Kane’s future.
Levy told the Cambridge Union that Kane “can absolutely win a trophy” with Tottenham and that he would like to see a statue of the 29-year-old outside the club’s stadium one day.
“[Kane] can absolutely win a trophy at Spurs,” Levy replied to a question. “But being a legend is also important. The fact that he’s the top scorer of Tottenham Hotspur – he’s making history. I hope one day that there is a statue of Harry Kane outside our stadium.”