Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United exit is looking imminent as the Red Devils are actively hunting for his replacement. United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly fed up of the 37-year-old’s antics and has asked the club to clear his path for an exit. Amidst the Ronaldo-United drama, talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has urged the Devils to go after Tottenham striker Harry Kane to replace the Portuguese.
Kane is believed to be a long term target of United, who almost joined their arch rivals Manchester City last summer. However, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy blocked a move as the striker himself insisted that he was happy to stay in North London. But Bent now feels Kane to United is a match made in heaven as he is the perfect man to lead their line post Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
Harry Kane ‘perfect’ to succeed Cristiano Ronaldo at United
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action against Sheriff after he was banned by Ten Hag for the Chelsea trip following his tantrums during United’s win over Spurs. The former Real Madrid forward refused to come on as a sub, and on top of that left the game earlier skipping his gaffer’s post-match talk for a second time. Ten Hag came out firing a warning to the club’s top-scorer from last season, which has further created a gap between the two.
And Ronaldo wants Champions League football which went missing from Old Trafford after their sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season. The Portugal captain is heavily tipped to move out of the club in the upcoming January transfer market, with the club too willing to facilitate his exit. Bent, a former Tottenham striker himself has urged United to put the money on the table for Harry Kane and snap him up in the winter market. Speaking on talkSPORT, Bent said:
“Where does he [Harry Kane] go? That City bubble’s gone. [Manchester] United would be perfect, they need a centre-forward. So that makes sense. [But] I’m not convinced he’ll leave. One, Harry loves the football club. Two, someone’s got to sum up the money.
“It was pretty clear last season that he wanted to leave. Man City were the ones pressing the issue, clearly they never came up with enough money and its believed they bid £140m but didn’t get him. They clearly believed that he was worth it, but Spurs thought he was worth more. Spurs are a club where if you don’t hit the price they want, you’re not going anywhere.”
Levy reportedly demanded a mammoth £150 million fee from City if they wanted to prize away Harry Kane last summer. The defending league champions refused to splash that amount and the England striker stayed back. However, with Kane at the age of 29 in his prime would certainly want to win trophies, as he hasn’t lifted a single one at Spurs. While United won’t guarantee him titles, they certainly have a better chance than winning one before Tottenham. But Bent further added the Red Devils will still have to chalk out a fee in triple figures to get the English forward. He continued:
“I still think around £100m [is needed to sign Kane]. There’s no way Daniel Levy will let him walk out for £60m. He could have two weeks left on his contract, Daniel Levy will still want £100m. I don’t think it’s a guarantee he goes.”
Harry Kane has already out up his name among some of the greatest strikers Premier League has witnessed, by racking up 193 goals in the English top flight across 291 appearances so far. With Cristiano Ronaldo on the move, Kane ideally seems a perfect replacement for United who won’t hesitate to sign a cheque of £100 million to get the established striker, who has already amassed 10 league goals this season in 12 outings.