EXCLUSIVE: Kane is Ten Hag's 'ideal' option as Man Utd seek Hojlund support

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 24 Jul 2023 12:12 BST
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Erik ten Hag sees Harry Kane as the ideal No.9 for his project but we understand that Tottenham are not pressuring chairman Daniel Levy into any sale.

There have been suggestions that Joe Lewis has implored Levy to sell this window but we are told that the club’s stance is that they want Kane to sign a fresh contract and that it would take well over £100 million for the club to let him go.

The club’s owner remains confident in Levy and seldom meddles in the day-to-day running of the side.

If Man Utd can recoup enough money from player sales, they could make a move for Kane, but given the fact a third bid is expected from Bayern Munich and also Spurs’ reluctance to sell to a Premier League club, it looks unlikely as things stand.

READ MORE: Man Utd handed MAJOR boost in pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat

Ten Hag sees Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund as a versatile attacker and wants a traditional striker to come in alongside the youngster, who had a breakout season last campaign in Serie A.

The club are confident of reaching a deal and the player has signalled that he would rather move to Old Trafford than head to Paris Saint-Germain.

Erik ten Hag’s revolution

If a deal is wrapped up for around £55m it would take the club’s budget down to zero, withstanding all the player sales Man Utd have made and the ones they’re going to make.

The club feel that Scott McTominay is worth £35m, Fred £25m, and Anthony Martial they deem close to £30m but given the Frenchman’s high wages, any sale unlikely to reach that amount.

The release of David de Gea has helped free up the wage bill; Alex Telles has joined Al-Nassr and it’s thought that Eric Bailly could be heading in the same direction. Anthony Elanga is set to join Nottingham Forest for £15m and the club are also open to offers for Brandon Williams and Donny van de Beek.

If Man Utd were to sell each of those players at the right price, taking into account the wages the players are on too, it’s thought that they may end up with a return of £80m-plus.

Exc: Understand Rasmus Højlund and Man United have agreed personal terms. Player will go to Atalanta and make transfer request if clubs can't agree - SEG's Kees Ploegsma and Kees Vos handling the deal. More on @Transfersdotcom soon.

— Jacque Talbot (@jac_talbot) July 8, 2023

Around £30m of that will go on Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina - but the midfielder will be brought in once Fred is sold, as previously revealed.

READ MORE: Man Utd transfer target offered €100m contract by rivals

The remainder will be spent on a striker to lead the line next season and depending on who they do go for - Kane being the number one choice but also the most unlikely target - it would be a matter of securing a deal with a structure in place that would see them pay a larger portion next year.

Ten Hag enjoys bringing through youth players and has implored the club to start offering incentivised contracts. But he wants - and needs - experience and a guarantee of goals next term, when Man Utd make a return to the Champions League.