'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has warned the Red Devils against signing Harry Kane.
Kane is in the final 14 months of his Tottenham Hotspur contract, with no signs of an extension in place. It has been heavily rumored that this is his final season with the north London side.
Kane, who finished as the 2020 UEFA Euro runner-up with England, has made his mark since coming through the ranks at Spurs. He has scored 278 goals and provided 64 assists in 434 matches for the club so far. He is also the Premier League's all-time second-highest goal-scorer
Despite his prolific efforts, the 29-year-old is yet to lift a single trophy at his boyhood club, which could push him to pursue greener pastures in the summer.
Antony Martial's injury troubles and Wout Weghorst's failure to impress in his loan spell have pushed Manchester United to look for a permanent solution to their attacking woes. With the club expected to be active in the transfer market for a striker, Kane has been strongly linked with Erik ten Hag's side over the last few weeks.
Club legend Cole, however, is unsure about Kane, who turns 30 years old in July, being a long-term solution for Manchester United. He told William Hill:
“Manchester United can’t go with a short-term solution again. They can’t go and spend £80 million or £100 million on Harry Kane. In two years’ time they’ll turn round and say to themselves, ‘he’s 32, we need to get ourselves another striker’. They can’t afford to find themselves in that position again.”
He added:
“When you look at the recognised strikers that Manchester United have had, you look at the likes of Robin van Persie, but the crazy thing is that he only stayed for two years, and ever since then it has just been one after another for two years.”
The 51-year-old believes that a big club like Manchester United cannot be on the lookout for a new striker every two years. He opined:
“A football club like Manchester United cannot just keep having different strikers for two years at a time, it’s ridiculous. They know now that they have to sign someone who is going to give them five years.”
Alan Shearer expects Harry Kane to stay at Tottenham despite Manchester United links
Former England striker Alan Shearer expects Harry Kane to end his career with Tottenham Hotspur. The Newcastle United legend also stated that Spurs fans won't hold a grudge against him if he does decide to move to a different club in the summer.
Newcastle United legend Shearer stated that the club's fans would be disappointed if the striker moved to Manchester United or any other club in the summer.
Speaking after Spurs' 3-1 Premier League defeat to Brentford, Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live:
"I think because of the love he has for Tottenham and that he's been there for tough times, I just see him seeing his career out there. I get the accusation that he hasn't won a trophy but those goals and those records he has set are his trophies. That's why I see him staying at Tottenham."
He added:
"If Kane did wave goodbye today, Spurs fans would be disappointed but I think he would go with their understanding because of what he has done for the club."
