Confirmation of Manchester United monitoring Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane ahead of the summer should not come as too great a surprise.
For all of United's impressive progress under Erik ten Hag this season, putting the ball in the back of the net at a frequent enough rate is a problem that continues to trouble them. They are the second-lowest scorers in the top half of the Premier League table, with only shot-shy Chelsea scoring fewer.
The Reds' tally of just 30 goals in the first half of the season, though it has not hindered their aspirations of achieving a top-four finish so far, is a key statistic that highlights their greatest need ahead of being expected to loosen the purse strings again in the summer. They have strengthened their attacking options this month with the loan signing of Wout Weghorst, but he is not the long-term answer to United's search for a world-class striker.
READ MORE: United's stance on Harry Kane transfer
Without Marcus Rashford's contributions, question marks do remain about where United's goals will come from. Anthony Martial's fitness troubles regularly stop him from getting into any sort of rhythm and Bruno Fernandes, though he has scored in each of his last two games, is not as prolific as he once was and Antony is continuing to find his feet.
But for all of the question marks that are being raised about United's lack of firepower without Rashford's contributions, they are still in a strong position to achieve their top target this season and secure qualification for next season's Champions League. Though talk of a title charge is a conversation that cannot be shut down just yet, United, more importantly, boast a six point advantage over Tottenham in fifth.
But not only are United looking a strong bet to achieve a top-four finish this season, they are also in with a solid chance of ending their trophy drought. They are still competing in three separate cup competitions and are just two games away from the final of the Carabao Cup.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are already out of the aforementioned competition and needed a moment of brilliance from Kane to scrape past Portsmouth in the third-round of the FA Cup earlier this month.
Spurs have become a club that are content with claiming fourth every season and are happy, it seems, just to make up the numbers in Europe's premier club competition. United, though, have far greater expectations, highlighted by how seriously Ten Hag has taken every fixture this season, particularly the cup competitions, when he has refused to mix things up, instead naming as strong a side as possible in pursuit of victory.
It is why you would argue that United are much further down the line towards winning a trophy. They are the favourites to win the Carabao Cup and you would not rule them out going deep into the FA Cup, either.
If United are successful on either front, or maybe even both, they should do everything within their power to try and extract Kane from north London this summer. His contract at Spurs is up at the end of next season and talks over a new deal are yet to progress, suggesting that the England goal-getter might be getting itchy feet about continuing his wait for a trophy.
Kane was determined to leave Spurs when Manchester City came calling for his services in the summer of 2021, only to end up staying in the capital. But with City having since added Erling Haaland to their ranks, they won't be rekindling their interest anytime soon, meaning United would be the only English club in the conversation to secure his signature, given Arsenal and Liverpool have recently added strikers to their ranks for big-money and Spurs are unlikely to sell to Chelsea.
Such is his contract status, Spurs might, though they will not go down without a fight, be prepared to let him go this summer, opposed to running the risk of losing him for nothing 12 months later. Kane's goalscoring ability has never once been questioned, highlighted by his tally of 15 in the league in a stuttering side this season, meaning United know they would get the guarantee of goals.
Daniel Levy will make it as difficult as possible for United, just as history has told us, but Kane could be tempted by the move if the Reds restock their trophy cabinet before the end of the campaign.
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