EXCLUSIVE: Jose Mourinho eyes Harry Kane as £80m Antoine Griezmann alternative for Man Utd
JOSE MOURINHO is plotting a stunning £80m bid to sign Harry Kane if Antoine Griezmann snubs a summer move to Manchester United.
Posted Thursday, March 02, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk
Jose Mourinho could make a mega-money raid for Harry Kane
Mourinho has made France and Atletico Madrid ace Griezmann his No.1 target during the next transfer window.
But if United fail to lure him to Old Trafford, Starsport understands Mourinho will launch an audacious attempt to sign Kane instead.
Griezmann has an £85m release clause written into his contract and United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is prepared to meet it.
United are also hoping close friend Paul Pogba can help persuade his international team-mate to join them.
But Griezmann has distanced himself from a summer move to United, insisting he is happy in Madrid and has reservations about living in Manchester.
Mourinho he might have to look elsewhere and has set his sights on Tottenham talisman Kane.
Woodward has told sources he believes the England striker would be difficult to sign until the end of the next campaign.
Kane signed a new deal earlier this season and insists he has no intention of leaving White Hart Lane.
But this won’t stop Mourinho from tempting Spurs with a multi-million pound bid that would make Kane one of the most expensive players in the world.
Wayne Rooney is expected to leave United this summer, with Mourinho making it clear the record goalscorer is not part of his long term plans.
It remains to be seen if Zlatan Ibrahimovic extends his contract by 12 months, but even if he does United bosses know the veteran Swede is nearing the end of his career.
Antoine Griezmann is Jose Mourinho's No.1 transfer target
Jose Mourinho wants to add another striker to United next season
Mourinho reckons Kane can fulfil his ambitions at United and form a potent attacking partnership with his England colleague Marcus Rashford.
But it remains to be seen if hard-nosed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is willing to do business with United.
Levy has cashed-in on some of the club’s biggest talents before, most notably Gareth Bale, who he sold to Real Madrid in a £86m deal in 2013.
But Spurs have become genuine title challengers and are poised to move to a new stadium.
Kane is central to the club’s future and Levy knows selling him would cause a revolt amongst supporters.
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