Harry Kane to make 'big decision' on his future says pundit
Manchester United aren’t put off by Tottenham’s £200million asking price for Harry Kane. The England international has established himself as one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League over the years, flourishing under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho. But, if United sign him, they risk making a Lukaku-esque mistake.
Manchester United have long enjoyed having the best British players at Old Trafford.
Alan Shearer and Gareth Bale aside, the Red Devils have, for the most part, got their way in that regard. From Bryan Robson to Roy Keane to Rio Ferdinand, they’ve been successful - and that’s led to trophies on the pitch.
Now, United could be set to go for Kane. The Tottenham star opened the door to a possible move away from White Hart Lane last month by saying: "I'll always love Spurs, but it's one of them things.
"I've always said, if I don't feel like we're progressing as a team or going in the right direction, I'm not someone to stay there just for the sake of it.
"I'm an ambitious player, I want to improve and become better.
“I want to become a top, top player, so it all depends on what happens as a team and how we progress as a team.
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"So, it's not a definite 'I'm going to stay there forever', but it's not a no either."
On paper, Kane looks the ideal fit.
But the same was said about Romelu Lukaku when he moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2017, back when Jose Mourinho was manager.
Mourinho thought he’d struck gold by signing the Belgium international, who had hit goals aplenty during his time at Everton.
But that didn’t work out.
Lukaku did well enough in his first season, scoring 28 goals across all competitions as the club finished second in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final.
Yet the moment Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed as manager, things went south for the Inter Milan star.
Lukaku, in the Norweigan’s eyes, wasn’t a United player.
Solskjaer wants his attack to be interchangeable, to be speedy and to be direct. Lukaku didn’t tick the boxes.
And neither might Kane.
He’s a terrific goalscorer, one of the best in the Premier League. Perhaps even in Premier League history.
But he doesn’t necessarily tick all the boxes, no matter his obvious quality and potential.
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Would Kane have the speed required to thrive alongside Marcus Rashford and the seemingly incoming Jadon Sancho? That’s debatable.
Even when playing alongside the duo for England Kane hasn’t been anywhere near as deadly as he is at club level.
Kane also isn’t adaptable. He’s a classic No 9, who sometimes plays as a No 10. Unlike Rashford and Anthony Martial, it’s hard to see him playing out wide.
United thought Lukaku was destined to be a hit when he turned out to be a disappointment, certainly not a flop.
And if they go for Kane he could be a £200m player who simply doesn’t fit. Solskjaer may have to alter his own approach to accommodate the striker should a sensational transfer deal take place this summer.