BAD SIGNS FOR UNITED OVER KANE
SPURS SAY REDS HAVE ‘NO CHANCE’ OF SIGNING STRIKER HARRY
TOTTENHAM Hotspur sources have dismissed United’s chances of signing Harry Kane in the near future.
Kane, 26, suggested at the weekend he would be open to leaving Spurs if the club was not ‘progressing as a team or going in the right direction’ and United are long-time admirers of the England captain.
However, sources close to Kane have told M.E.N. Sport there is ‘no chance’ of the Reds prising Kane away from Spurs due to the length of his contract. Kane is tied to Spurs until 2024 and the club has largely succeeded in keeping its most valuable players since Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid for a then world record £85m in 2013.
United have shown no willingness to capitalise on Kane’s comments and are expected to focus on more immediate and attainable targets such as Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskajer wanted to recruit a long-term centre forward in the winter but Erling Haaland, 19, rejected the Reds in favour of joining Dortmund for just £20m. Kane would command a fee well in excess of £100m.
United executive vicechairman Ed Woodward has privately spoken effusively about Kane but United have been reluctant to deal with the Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy over the last decade.
Jose Mourinho was interested in signing Toby Alderweireld from Spurs in 2018 yet became pessimistic about United’s chances after Levy had telephoned Woodward to enquire about Anthony Martial, whom
Mourinho wanted to sell after he went AWOL during the pre-season tour of the US.
Mourinho is delighted to now be managing Kane at Spurs and dismissed the prospect of United signing him towards the end of his managerial reign at Old
Trafford. “Can you buy Tottenham’s best players?
No, because they don’t sell.”
AARON Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams have played a huge role in helping United’s defence improve this season, according to their team-mates.
Victor Lindelof revealed the impact the two young fullbacks have had since coming into the side under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Wan-Bissaka, 22, was a £45m summer signing from Crystal Palace while Brandon Williams, the 19-year-old academy product, has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the first team.
Lindelof and centre-back partner Harry Maguire were asked in an interview with the official United website about what it’s like to play with the full-backs.
“Of course you always try to help your team-mates and as a unit at the back everyone tries to help each other,” said Lindelof.
“And I think they’ve been doing well when they’ve played, Brandon has been brilliant for example. He’s been playing more on the left so Harry’s been taking care of him.
“I’ve played a bit more with Aaron and he’s been brilliant since he came here.
“I think as a back four we can only get better and better like we said before.”
Maguire added that “the young full-backs have been brilliant” before Lindelof spoke about how goalkeeper David de Gea makes the entire defence feel more secure.
“Of course it’s great to have David behind us,” added the Swede.
“He gives you security and if we might make a mistake we know that he’s behind us and can save the ball.
“It’s great to have him and he’s been great for us.
“We talk a lot and he helps us, and we try to help him as much as we can.”