Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has advised Manchester United about whom to sign between Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, with the both the strikers having been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag is expected to look for a top-tier striker in the summer, with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen both on United’s radars. The Red Devils are even ready to splash a trip-figure fee if that means they are going to get their hands on either of the strikers.
However, though United’s recruitment has improved since Ten Hag’s arrival, Henry has some advise for the Red Devils’ recruitment staff if they are going to chase Kane and Osimhen as a result of the duo’s exploits for their respective clubs in recent years. United are already on their way to a solid resurrection, by winning their first ever trophy since 2017 in the Carabao Cup. They are also well sat third in the Premier League and the only missing piece of their puzzle seems to be a top striker.
Henry urges United to go for Harry Kane over Victor Osimhen
Manchester United were left without a natural out-and-out striker after Cristiano Ronaldo was sacked in November last year. While Marcus Rashford, who generally likes to operate from the left-wing, was deployed as a makeshift number-9 by Ten Hag. United then brought in World Cup-fame the Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley. Ten Hag explained the 30-year-old’s link-up play made him go for his fellow countryman.
Henry has used the same idea of the Man United boss to suggest that the club should go and get Harry Kane ahead of Victor Osimhen. The legendary Premier League striker believes Kane should be a top priority for United since he won’t require any adaptation at Old Trafford. Kane’s linkup play and ability to drop deep, according to Henry, will bring out the best in Rashford as well. The Frenchman told CBS Sports:
“Personally, if I’m Man United I go Kane because he knows the Premier League. Looking at Kane, this guy doesn’t need to adapt to anything. He has a way of dropping deep that would allow Marcus Rashford to run in behind. Kane can play anywhere, he can adapt to any team – well except Arsenal!”
The former Barcelona player also stated that Osimhen is a fantastic player, but that he will need time to adjust to a new system at Manchester United. Henry continued:
“That doesn’t mean Osimhen is not a good player, it has nothing to do with that. I think he’s going to go wherever he wants to go. He can adapt to a lot of sides and any league. When you play for a team like Napoli, everything comes to him. But it’s a different ball game when you play in a front three.
“Balls are not always going to you at big club with three big guys up top. That’s what I want to see: How he reacts when he’s not the only focal point. But other than that he has everything. He can hold the ball up well, he can run into the channel, he can finish well with his head, with his foot.”
Harry Kane has scored 22 goals and contributed 4 assists in 38 games this season, while Osimhen has 23 goals and 5 assists in 28 games. Manchester United have also been linked with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Randal Kolo Muani, and Benjamin Sesko, in addition to Kane and Osimhen.