Erik ten Hag handed Harry Kane transfer solution after unlikely Manchester United partnership formed

Manchester United have reportedly named Harry Kane as their priority target for the summer window - and an unlikely partnership that has formed at the club in recent weeks could help Erik ten Hag to sign him.

United spent over £200 million last summer on players, which was reported by the Manchester Evening News as a figure that was 'significantly over budget'.

Ten Hag, therefore, was restricted to bringing in loan signings in January, with the club not spending on permanent transfers.

Reaching next season's Champions League may prove to be key for United in being able to bring in Ten Hag's key targets this summer - a goal they will almost certainly achieve barring a disastrous run of results.

According to The Telegraph, the club have made initial moves in their attempt to sign Kane, who has just 12 months left on his contract at Tottenham.

And one of Ten Hag's key on-pitch decisions may inadvertently help United to bring in England's record goalscorer.

How Man Utd can receive boost in Kane pursuit

The Telegraph claimed last month that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would demand a fee of at least £100 million from English clubs to part company with his prized asset.

Kane is able to negotiate a pre-contract - and thus potentially leave as a free agent - with European clubs from January 2024 if he does not renew his existing deal.

But that is not the case for English clubs, who can only speak with the player in the final month of his contract.

Levy is also known as a fiercely tough negotiator - and he won't exactly be welcoming to United's attempts to take Kane away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That will inevitably end up increasing the asking price, and with Ten Hag monitoring other targets, including a new goalkeeper and centre-back, United may be forced to look at other options.

But their centre-back dilemma may have already been solved by the manager himself. Following injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, Ten Hag turned to second-choice pairing Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire for the 3-0 Europa League defeat against Sevilla.

Luke Shaw then replaced Maguire for the FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout win over Brighton, and impressed alongside Lindelof in the subsequent 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

With Tyrell Malacia able to cover for Shaw at left-back when required and with the futures of defensive trio Maguire, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly uncertain, United could raise some much needed funds without the need for a replacement, and divert extra cash towards the Kane pursuit if that is decided upon.

What is clear, however, is that United will need to pay big money to sign the Spurs striker - and it could be a pursuit that drifts well into the summer months.