Manchester United Transfer News: Crunch Pedro Talks Imminent, Harry Kane Latest

Manchester United seem to be edging closer to finalising a deal for Barcelona winger Pedro, with the latest reports suggesting club representatives will hold discussions in Catalonia on Tuesday after the Red Devils made a formal bid for the player.

According to SPORT (h/t Tom Conn of InsideSpanishFootball.com), the Old Trafford giants have made an official offer of €25 million for Pedro. Javier Giraldo of SPORT claims that the sum paid could eventually end up as high as €30 million, “dependant on variables,” after talks between United and Barca representatives.

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John Cross of the Daily Mirror wrote the player has a release clause in his contract of around £24 million, but United are hopeful of completing a transfer in the next two days for a fee of around £20 million.

Pedro looks set to be the natural replacement for United’s Angel Di Maria, with the record signing set to depart Old Trafford, per Simon Stone of BBC. Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell took a look at whether or not he’s up to the task:

Pedro certainly seems to have all the qualities required to be a success under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal. At Barcelona he’s been an incisive and skilful presence on the flanks, dazzling defenders with his talented footwork and raw speed. Sadly, since Luis Suarez rocked up at the Camp Nou, we’ve not seen enough of these attributes, with Pedro falling well down the pecking order.

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Nonetheless, his former coach at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, has backed the Spanish international to be an emphatic success should any transfer go ahead, per AS (h/t ESPN FC):

"

If I was the Barcelona coach, I could tell you more. Regarding his abilities, there are no doubts: European champion with the national team and league champion with his club. He was won everything.

When you have played millions of matches with Barca you can play on any team in the world. He has played at many positions. I wish him the best because he is a great person and a great player.

"

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

Pedro looked like a player in desperate need of a fresh start at times last season and although it’ll be galling for the La Masia graduate to leave the club where he’s refined his footballing make-up, United are a massive team.

If he can replicate the kind of levels that have so regularly been on show at the Camp Nou during his time in the Barcelona first team, the Old Trafford crowd will grow to love Pedro. Provided he can adapt to the Premier League’s ferocious tempo, the winger still has much to offer at the very highest level; expect United to reap the rewards in 2015-16.

Harry Kane Doesn’t Need a Move, Says Mauricio Pochettino

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has claimed Harry Kane has the potential to become one of the very best strikers in world football and that he can scale those heights with Spurs.

As noted by Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, Manchester United are reportedly interested in the 22-year-old, who burst onto the scene in spectacular style last season. But speaking ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday, Pochettino insisted his future is very much at White Hart Lane, per the aforementioned piece:

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Any doubts about his commitment are gone. He is delighted to stay with Tottenham. He is a big supporter of the club. I think he is very happy and we are very happy he is with us. …

He is young but he is very mature. He is in a very good way to become one of the best strikers in the world. If you can do it in England and Europe, you are doing it in the best competitions in the world.

"

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

United have held a longstanding reputation as a club which pursues the best British talent and it’s easy to see why they may have isolated Kane. As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, the forward’s goalscoring was simply sensational in 2014-15:

Given the player has recently penned a new deal with Tottenham and he’s a boyhood Spurs supporter, at this juncture it would be tough to lure him away from north London. In addition, it’s clear Pochettino has a steely resolve to keep Kane at the club and build a vibrant young side around his goalscoring qualities.

United do need a centre-forward before the season starts and the prospect of Kane linking up with Wayne Rooney would be an intriguing one. But for the time being the best place for the youngster to continue developing is at Tottenham and going by the glee etched on Kane’s face every time he finds the net for the club, he wouldn’t have it any other way.