Manchester United 'prepare huge Harry Kane offer with sale of Anthony Martial not ruled out'

Manchester United are preparing a substantial offer for Harry Kane which would see them cover any loss of earnings caused by submitting a transfer request at Tottenham, a new report reveals.

Kane's revelation that he wants to leave Tottenham this summer has put the elite of European football on alert.

Manchester City are seen as the most likely landing spot but the Times report that it is United who are prepared to put their money on the table to steal a march on their rivals in pursuit of Kane.

United are said to have been armed with the knowledge that Kane is seeking an exit from Tottenham long before he went public with his wishes.

The Red Devils extended Edinson Cavani's deal recently and that appeared to rule out a major move for another No 9 but that is reportedly not the case.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are said to be so keen to land the England striker that they are reportedly willing to fit the bill for any loyalty bonuses Kane would forego if he was required to put in a formal transfer request at any stage this summer.

United went top of the Premier League earlier this season but their title bid faded and Solskjaer knows he needs more top-level signings such as Kane before he can dethrone Manchester City.

Speaking this week, Solskjaer said: 'I hope we are going to strengthen with two or three players.

'We definitely need to challenge higher up in the table and we're still too far behind to think it will just come by itself.

'We're not where we aim to be, we've got ambitions to move one place further up.'

Kane has been targeted by multiple United bosses and any £150million switch is viewed by the Glazer family as a way to diffuse increasingly volatile fan protests.

While Cavani is here to stay at United, the report goes on to add that one current forward could be moved on to free up a spot for Kane in the forward line.

Solskjaer is said to be open to selling French attacker Anthony Martial to both reduce the bloated attack and also help fund part of any Kane transfer.

The France international has scored just four goals in 22 Premier League appearances this season ahead of the final day trip to Wolves.