Real Madrid ‘CRAZY’ for Man Utd target but could push Mbappe to Old Trafford

Robin Bairner

• 27 May 2023 12:42 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is “crazy” about Manchester United summer transfer target Harry Kane, according to AS.

The Tottenham forward is finally expected to leave the club this summer, with their failure to be competitive at the top of the Premier League – or even finish in the top four – set to push the prolific England striker away.

Man Utd, who are in dire need of a centre forward following the release of Cristiano Ronaldo in November, are widely expected to make a move for Kane but their hopes of landing the 29-year-old star could be derailed by Ancelotti and Real Madrid.

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The Italian, who is now expected to see out his contract at the Bernabeu after strong links with the Brazil national team job, is infatuated with the idea of signing the Tottenham striker this summer, according to the Spanish press.

And Real Madrid do hold one crucial edge in the negotiations over Kane: Tottenham will not demand as significant a fee from a foreign club as one of their Premier League rivals.

It has already been established that Spurs want in the region of €113 million from a fellow English side but are ready to accept €90m from a foreign team.

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The Mbappe question

There are three reasons to question Real Madrid’s pursuit of Kane, though.

Firstly, with the club set to land Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund for €100m before bonuses, where will the funds come from for such a deal?

Secondly, Ancelotti’s contract is up at the end of next season; will Real Madrid really sanction a huge move for a player he loves when the balance of probability suggests he will leave a year later?

Finally, what does this mean for Kylian Mbappe? The PSG attacker is out of contract in 2024, when he could join Real Madrid on a free transfer. He could operate in a wide area, but with Vinicius Junior apparently at the club for life, the left-wing berth is already occupied. Is it possible that Kane could block Mbappe and instead send him to Man Utd, who are also credited with an interested in the unsettled PSG star?