Manchester United Transfer News: Big-Money Targets Named in Latest Rumours

Manchester United's reported pursuits of Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Ilkay Gundogan and Roberto Firmino continue to dominate the press.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News indicates United are "prepared to pay a world record fee" for Bale.

This essentially isn't anything new—the Red Devils were happy to spend in excess of £85 million on him before he moved to Real Madrid in 2013—but Ian Herbert and Pete Jenson of the Independent note it is "not entirely out of the question" United could use goalkeeper David De Gea as a pawn in landing the Welshman.

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The Manchester Evening News (h/t the Independent's Tom Sheen) also reports United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is "getting ready" to launch a bid "in excess of £50 million" for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane. 

Kane netted an excellent 21 league goals in his breakout 2014-15 season, thrusting Spurs to fifth place. He is powerful, quick and can fulfill a number of roles along the front line. The Englishman is capable of playing on the last defender or holding the ball up to bring others into play, a vital strategy if Van Gaal is going to deploy 4-3-3 next season.

Anywhere near £50 million is an excessive amount for the 21-year-old, but if Liverpool are holding out to receive £50 million for Raheem Sterling, reported by Mark Ogden of the Telegraph, Kane could generate this amount. Kane has always appeared to take challenges in his stride, but United would be offering an almighty show of belief in his quality if this kind of money is dropped to land him.

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United boss Louis van Gaal will be looking to secure reinforcements behind United's attack, with Borussia Dortmund's Gundogan continuing to be linked with the club, per Luckhurst. He has taken to Facebook to suggest he will make an announcement on his future after Germany's fixture with Gibraltar on Saturday.

Luckhurst translated the final part of Gundogan's message: "What's next for me personally, I will reveal as soon as possible," he wrote. "But only after the season and our important game for the European Championship qualifier with the national team will I decide."

Sticking in Germany, ESPN Brazil journalist Jose Elias reported on Thursday that United are close to signing Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim, per Sport Witness.

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Although the Mirror's Jack Lang suggests ESPN Brazil's website is yet to report the story, Sport Witness passed along Sky Germany's assertions on Friday:

However, Sport Witness notes the German report doesn't indicate exactly which club Firmino has opted to join.

B/R UK's Andy Brassell recently discussed a host of less obvious players United could pursue:

United's summer is likely to be defined by a handful of top-quality signings. Van Gaal will be hoping for a greater return than he saw last year—Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Luke Shaw rarely impressed after joining—but he will be confident of helping United progress.

Champions League football may make all the difference when luring stars to Old Trafford. The upcoming season is pivotal in United's post Sir Alex Ferguson transition and will provide a major indication toward whether the club will post a genuine title challenge soon.