In a recent column with The Daily Mail, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy shared his opinion on why Manchester United should sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane this summer when he wrote, “Manchester United are closer to challenging for the Premier League title and Champions League than many people think.
“The final piece in the jigsaw is a world-class centre-forward. We know it, and they know it. It is why they tried to sign Erling Haaland in January.
“If Harry Kane is available, even for a record price, United would be mad not to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Murphy also went on to add (via The Daily Mail), “Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is a tough negotiator and £200million is a mouth-watering price. But if United have the money, they should spend it on Kane. He can turn them from a team with potential, into genuine challengers.”
Kane’s Injury Plagued Campaign At North London So Far
The England international has endured a difficult campaign in the Premier League after a serious thigh injury kept him out of several games so far. However, that has not stopped Kane from banging in the goals for the North London giants. The 26-year-old has appeared in 25 matches for Jose Mourinho’s team this term, netting 17 goals and providing two assists across all fronts. Despite his limited game time this season, Kane’s remarkable consistency has kept his reputation intact as a prolific goal-getter at the highest level.
He has also averaged 2.8 shots, 1.0 key passes and 1.2 dribbles in every 90 minutes of Premier League football this season (stats via whoscored). The English centre-forward has got an even better record in Europe after averaging 4.6 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.6 dribbles per game in the UEFA Champions League (stats via whoscored).
Kane also boasts a remarkable goal-scoring record for Gareth Southgate’s England national side, registering 32 goals in 45 international fixtures for the Three Lions thus far. If the London-born marksman can stay fit and healthy, then he will once again play a vital role for his country in next year’s UEFA European Championship which has been delayed until the end of next season as a result of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Will The English Centre-Forward Bring To The Table?
Kane loves to test the opposition goalie by getting a few shots in on-target. What makes him such a lethal presence up top is his killer instincts to finish off chances in the final third. He excels at using his body as a shield to retain possession and get others involved in the opposition half. The English striker is an experienced campaigner who has already proven his worth as a consistent goal-getter in the English top-flight over the past half a decade.
Should The Red Devils Smash Their Transfer Record For Kane?
Therefore Murphy makes a good point when he suggests Man United should stretch their financial muscle by bringing Kane to Old Trafford this summer. The Spurs forward can make Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team serious contenders for the league title next season as he would add a lot of goals to the Man United frontline. Even though Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are both great strikers in their own right, yet they lack the consistency which Kane possess in front of the opposition goal.
The 26-year-old will not only be an upgrade over any of Solskjaer’s current striking options but also has the potential to score more than 30 goals a season with world-class creative assets like Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba making plays for him in the attacking third of the field. Hence, the Man United head coach should listen to Murphy’s advice by breaking the bank in recruiting a world-class centre-forward like Kane ahead of the new season.
