Manchester United can sign another Robin van Persie if Glazers make right appointment | Football

Manchester United owners the Glazers are currently mulling over who to name as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent replacement. And all signs point to it being Mauricio Pochettino, despite the club’s interest in Luis Enrique and Erik ten Hag. Should the current PSG boss take over, he could feasibly sign Harry Kane and shape him into the club’s next Robin van Persie.

Manchester United will sign a new forward this summer, regardless of who is in charge.

This was confirmed by interim boss Ralf Rangnick on Friday, with the German admitting the club would look to sign a younger version of Edinson Cavani.

Cavani is expected to leave Old Trafford at the end of the campaign. He wanted to leave a year ago but ended up renewing his contract following a strong end to the season.

La Liga and a return to South America are both potential options for the 34-year-old, who missed Saturday’s match with Southampton due to injury.

And Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is uncertain, too.

Though the Portugal international has done well since returning from Juventus, he’s not entirely happy with life at the Theatre of Dreams.

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After all, why would he be? United are going for Champions League football, rather than the Premier League title. No trophy is expected to be won, extending their wait for silverware into a sixth year.

And if United do appoint Pochettino, it’s certainly feasible the Argentine will seek a reunion with Kane.

Kane has been a world-class player for many years, now. He’s done well under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte in the time since Pochettino left.

Yet it was under the Argentine when he was at his happiest.

Pochettino helped shape Kane into the A-lister he is today, placing his faith in the England international when he was still learning his trade.

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Kane scored 21 goals from 34 league appearances during the 49-year-old’s first year at the helm.

He netted 25 from 38 the following year and managed 29 goals from 30 appearances in the 2016/2017 campaign.

Under Pochettino, Kane then notched 30 times in the top flight the following year – before still managing a respectable 17 goals from 28 matches in the 2018/2019 season as Tottenham reached the Champions League final.

While he’s struggled for consistency under Antonio Conte this term, Kane remains gold.

And there’s a sense that, if Pochettino does reunite with the player at Old Trafford, he can help him become the club’s next Van Persie.

United signed the Dutchman from Arsenal in 2012 when the Netherlands international was already the finished product, already recognised as one of the best strikers in world football.

And he certainly didn’t disappoint, notching 30 goals the following year as United won the Premier League title.

Since then, they’ve signed veterans in Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cavani.

Yet all three players, arguably, were past their absolute best by the time they signed on the dotted line.

Kane, at 28, still has much more to give, however.

The England international is just about to enter the prime years of his career and won’t hang around at Tottenham if they fail to make the Champions League.

While United are also struggling to make the top four, their status as one of the world’s biggest clubs means they’ll always be able to attract the best players.

And if they do hire Pochettino, the Glazers may have the perfect bait to make a transfer happen.

Tottenham would hate to lose Kane to one of their fiercest rivals but, having denied him a move away last summer, may end up caving to avoid a repeat of last summer’s debacle.

What happens in the end is something only time, ultimately, will happen.

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