Manchester United Transfer News: Harry Kane, Antoine Griezmann, Latest Rumours

Manchester United will reportedly make an £80 million move for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane should they fail to sign No. 1 target Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid in the summer. 

According to Jeremy Cross in the Daily Star, United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is prepared to meet Griezmann's release clause of £85 million, but the France international "has distanced himself from a summer move to United, insisting he is happy in Madrid and has reservations about living in Manchester."

Per Cross, Kane is manager Jose Mourinho's back-up option and, though he only signed a new deal with Spurs earlier this season and the north London club would be loath to let him go, United could still look to tempt Tottenham with a big-money offer. 

Season	Kane Premier League Goals (Appearances)	Griezmann La Liga Goals (Appearances)
2016-17	17 (21)	9 (23)
2015-16	25 (38)	22 (38)
2014-15	21 (34)	22 (37)

United have been linked with the England international before, following his breakout Premier League season in 2014-15, per BeIN Sports (h/t The Telegraph).

Since then, 23-year-old Kane's stock and value have only risen further.

He netted 25 goals as Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs ran Leicester City close for the Premier League title in 2015-16 and has already scored 17 times in the current campaign, the joint-best tally in the division, per WhoScored.com.

United are in need of a new front-line striker for the long term.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been immense in 2016-17 following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, but he is now 35 and his career is drawing to a close.

Meanwhile, a summer departure seems inevitable for captain and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, per The Times' Oliver Kay on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement:

Either Griezmann, 25, or Kane would be ideal signings, as both have proved themselves at the top level over a number of seasons and are yet to reach the peak years of their respective careers.

United have the finances to pay huge transfer fees for either player but may find it difficult to persuade them away from their current clubs, especially if they cannot offer UEFA Champions League football next season, as Spurs and Atleti likely will.