Manchester United Transfer News: Louis van Gaal Demands Harry Kane, Top Rumours

Manchester United will revive a bid for Tottenham's Harry Kane next summer amid reports manager Louis van Gaal has insisted on a move for the striker. A new offer is also said to be in the works to sign Raphael Varane.

Italian outlet Calcio Mercato sourced beIN Sports, which reported an approach for Kane is on the horizon after United missed out on his signature this past summer (via Daily Star's Marc Williams).

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

It's alleged the Red Devils' previous bid of £25 million was turned down out of hand as Spurs seek to gain adequate compensation for the 22-year-old, who's been out of form so far this season.

After bagging a prolific 31 goals in 51 total appearances during his breakout 2014-15 campaign, Kane now has just one goal in 12 appearances this term. ESPN FC's Michael Cox has suggested there's more to a striker's success than mere goals, however:

United are looking to beef up their attack after seeing another England frontman, captain Wayne Rooney, go through a difficult patch this season, producing two goals in his eight Premier League appearances thus far.

It's no secret summer signing Anthony Martial has been the most inspiring scoring asset for Van Gaal since arriving at Old Trafford. But even the Frenchman's form has inevitably mellowed since a rampaging start to life in England, failing to score in each of his last three league outings.

Kane has previously opened up on the prospect of leaving White Hart Lane, and after the close of the most recent transfer window, he was quoted by James Robson of the Manchester Evening News, saying:

"

I am a Tottenham boy. I have grown up with the club. I know the club and I love the club. We have got a great team, a young team that is only going to get better and better. I am happy. I am happy to be playing. 

That is the most important thing for me this season to be playing week in week out and getting game time. We have a great manager and staff at Spurs and I can really see us just pushing on. I am excited for the future. A new stadium as well. Everything just seems to be going in the right direction so I am excited.

"

Of course, such words can never be treated as absolute in a game where things tend to change so quickly and so drastically, especially when a club of Manchester United's magnitude becomes fixated with a target.

The same could be said of Real Madrid defender Varane, who was linked to the Red Devils prior to completing his move to Real Madrid from Lens in 2011 and is intriguing the English giants once again.

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

In an effort to improve his inconsistent defence, talkSPORT reported Van Gaal is eyeing a winter move for the France international (h/t Daily Star's Williams). 

The report quoted Varane opening up on Paris Saint-Germain's previous interest in his signature, telling French newspaper Le Parisien why he opted for a move to the Baernabeu just over four years ago:

"

PSG were interested in signing me, but we never entered negotiations. The Qatari project at the club was all still a bit unclear to me. I could not see myself join PSG, because I did not know how they would develop. PSG did not suit me at the time and the move to Real Madrid was a logical choice.

"

It's evident first-team football has always been a priority for Varane, 22, and United may be in a superior position to offer him that, having had to convert Daley Blind into a more permanent central defender this season.

Varane's path in Madrid has at times been blocked by the form of seasoned duo Sergio Ramos and Pepe, but the Guardian's Barney Ronay has outlined him as one of the best talents in the world nonetheless:

Despite enduring some uncertainty regarding first-team involvement in the past, Varane is now taking his chances under Rafa Benitez and has started in nine of his 10 appearances across the campaign.

His form has helped establish Real as one of Europe's best defences this year, conceding just twice in La Liga, while Sport Witness has agreed the Red Devils' defensive dynamic is slightly less assured:

Chris Smalling has found form to become one of the team's best options at the back, but Old Trafford is still longing for that standout superstar since Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic took their leaves of the club.

But the chances of Real Madrid selling their emerging superstar seem slim at any time of year, much less so during the middle of a season where he's providing manager Benitez with a sturdy spine in Spain's capital.