Ten Hag chooses No 1 Man Utd target who’ll put limited trio on notice; club’s transfer record to fall

Erik ten Hag has settled on his No 1 transfer target for the summer, and a report has revealed concerns over three Man Utd players in particular will prompt a new club-record deal.

The Red Devils have taken giant strides forward during the Dutchman’s first season at Old Trafford. However, rather than be content to rest on their laurels, Man Utd are primed to double down and go big in the transfer market.

That’s according to the Manchester Evening News who detail who Ten Hag has selected as his primary target.

A new centre-forward is widely believed to be the club’s top priority and Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have been given almost equal billing.

However, per the MEN, it’s Tottenham talisman Kane who has emerged as the preferred candidate to revamp United’s frontline.

A ‘world class’ option is wanted and Kane is the player who’s been chosen. The 29-year-old has been in spectacular form this season, notching 27 league goals.

Kane is out of contract with Spurs at the end of next season and whether he’s allowed to leave this summer could hinge entirely on whether he pens fresh terms.

Tottenham will be ultra-reluctant to sell to a domestic rival, though it’s Man Utd who can stump up larger fees than fellow Kane suitor Bayern Munich, for example.

Indeed, the MEN add ‘money is believed to have been set aside for a potential club-record investment in a new goalscorer.’

United’s current record remains the £89.3m paid to sign Paul Pogba back in 2016. Kane is expected to cost at least £100m.

Ten Hag unconvinced by Antony, Sancho, Martial?

Emboldening Ten Hag to act in the market is concerns he is understood to harbour over Antony, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial. The report claims Ten Hag feels ‘United have limitations in their frontline’ and names the threesome.

The trio – who were signed for a combined £216.4m – have combined for just 22 goals across all competitions this term. By contrast, Marcus Rashford alone has 29 and Bruno Fernandes is the only other player to have hit double figures.

While Antony and Sancho are unlikely to be on the move, the same cannot be said of Martial. TEAMtalk understands the Frenchman has been put up for sale this summer.

Once a new striker is signed, attention will turn to signing a ‘domineering’ central midfielder.

Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Fred are all the wrong side of 30. The Daily Mail recently revealed Man Utd could use West Ham’s interest in Scott McTominay to help snatch Declan Rice away from Arsenal’s grasp.

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