Merson warns Kane ‘everyone will have a striker’ if he doesn’t force Man Utd move this summer

Paul Merson thinks Man Utd target Harry Kane “has to leave Tottenham now otherwise he’s never leaving” as “everyone will have a striker” next summer.

The Red Devils have reportedly made the England international their top target for the summer transfer window .

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Man Utd haven’t permanently replaced Cristiano Ronaldo, who left in November following a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, with only Wout Weghorst coming in as a temporary fix.

Kane has a year left on his contract in north London but Man Utd could still have to pay as much as £100m to convince Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to sell.

And Merson thinks Kane’s window of opportunity is slipping away with this summer his final chance to leave Tottenham and win trophies.

Merson told Sky Sports: “If Manchester United sign Harry Kane this summer then they’re a shoo-in for the top four next season.

“Can they win the league? I’m not sure but he scored 30 Premier League goals this season. Kane will take them to another level.

“He has to leave Tottenham now otherwise he’s never leaving because Man City have got Erling Haaland and United and Chelsea need to buy a centre-forward this summer. So, by the time Kane is a free transfer at the end of next season, everyone will have a striker.

“But I don’t see him leaving Tottenham. People say he has to win trophies, the only place he can guarantee winning them is at Manchester City. If he goes to Manchester United they could easily win nothing next season.

“And what about his young family? You’ve got to weigh up this stuff as well. Everyone just looks at the footballer. He’s a family man and Tottenham through and through. I’d be quite shocked if he did leave.”

Man Utd have a chance to add to their Carabao Cup trophy this season with the Red Devils facing neighbours Man City in on Saturday.

Merson added: “If Manchester City play well then there’s only one winner in Saturday’s FA Cup final – it’s as simple as that.

“I’d play Sancho as a false nine. He’s someone who can play in the middle, pick up the ball, turn and run. It also stops John Stones from coming into midfield.

“If City do push Stones into there to pick up Sancho then Rashford and whoever is on the other wing can be making inside runs on the City defence – and that will cause them problems.

“I’d also definitely play Rashford on the right rather than on the left up against Kyle Walker, who is City’s best defender. He won’t be as effective cutting inside from the right but you’ve got to change it up.

“Guardiola always gets people thinking about Manchester City; managers must start getting City thinking about what they’re going to do.

“United will end up playing like Roma did in the Europa League final if they don’t change it up – 11 men behind the ball, 35 yards out from their own goal. You don’t want that to happen. They’ve got to take a chance and keep the wingers up the pitch.

“After walking off the pitch against Brighton and Brentford having been absolutely battered at the start of the season, to then win a trophy, finish in the top four and be in the FA Cup final, United had an amazing season.

“Those defeats seem a long, long time ago and that shows how well they’ve done really. If they don’t win on Saturday, their season has still been a success.

“This isn’t the Manchester United of old, this is the new United. Chelsea and Liverpool would love to be where they are at the moment.”

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