Man Utd's 'priority' summer signing 'would cost' just £54m - Ratcliffe eager 'to do everything' to secure it

Manchester United ended their run of three Premier League games without a win as they defeated Ipswich Town 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The Red Devils had drawn with Everton and lost to Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace in their last three league outings.

They showed some spirit to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Goodison Park and also overturned a 1-0 deficit to win against the Tractor Boys. The victory over Ipswich was made more encouraging given that Ruben Amorim’s side played just over half the game with 10 men after Patrick Dorgu was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Omari Hutchinson in the latter stages of the first.

One issue for United in their recent games is that none of their five goals have come from their strikers. Against Everton, midfield pair Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte struck while against Ipswich an own goal from the visitors plus two efforts from Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire was enough to secure victory.

Striker ‘priority signing for United’

It is well known the Red Devils are in the market for a new striker this summer. Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyökeres have been linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford but now another player has been named as a target.

Reports in Spain from Fichajes have also reported on the club’s desire to sign a striker as a ‘priority’ and claim co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has set his sights on Harry Kane. The England captain joined Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich back in the summer of 2023, ending his long spell with Tottenham Hotspur. The Red Devils had been interested in Kane at the time of his move to Germany but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was not willing to do business with a Premier League rival.

Ratcliffe is said to want Kane to lead the rebuild at Old Trafford, with the prolific striker said to be available for just £54m this summer due to a release clause in his Bayern contract. The report from Spain claims that ‘Ratcliffe is determined to do everything he can’ to get Kane to Old Trafford.

Would Kane make United move?

The reported release clause removes the hurdle of negotiations with Bayern but whether Kane would accept a move to Old Trafford is doubtful. Kane is closing in on winning his first major trophy with Bayern top of the Bundesliga. The German giants are still in the Champions League and despite not being among the favourites to win the tournament, they will enter the competition again next season.

United’s only hopes of securing a place in Europe’s elite competition is by winning the Europa League. Another issue which may put Kane off moving to Old Trafford is the current state of the club. United are aiming to rebuild their fortunes but with Kane giving much of his career to a Spurs side in a constant state of aiming to transition into genuine challengers for major honours, the England captain - now 31 - may be reluctant to join a club in a period of transition.

The need for a striker is clear as the Red Devils’ current strike-force is struggling for goals, with Amorim’s side netting 33 times in 27 Premier League games. Joshua Zirkzee has scored just three times in the Premier League while Rasmus Hojlund has netted twice. Whether that could be Kane remains to be seen.