Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that his side "have a plan" to deal with Harry Kane in Thursday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur in North London.
The Red Devils will head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday evening looking to pick up a victory which would put them in a very strong position to claim a top-four spot in this season's Premier League table.
The 20-time English champions are currently fourth, five points ahead of fifth-placed Aston Villa with three games in hand, while they are six clear of Spurs with two games spare.
A win for Man United on Thursday could therefore end any realistic chance of Tottenham finishing in the Champions League positions this season.
Spurs' biggest threat is likely to come from Kane, who has scored 26 goals and registered four assists in 43 appearances in all competitions during the 2022-23 campaign.
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However, Man United managed to keep Tottenham's all-time leading goalscorer quiet in the reverse game at Old Trafford back in October, and Ten Hag has said that his side will again pay special attention to the forward.
"It's quite clear, his impact on the game from Spurs. We have a plan for that and in the home game we did very well, so for tomorrow we need a very good plan as well," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
"You have to defend as a team, he's a clever player, don't allow him to come into the situations, he can have a big impact on the game."
Kane has scored 24 Premier League during the 2022-23 campaign, including a consolation in Tottenham's 6-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
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Man United are believed to be determined to sign the England captain during this summer's transfer window, with the Red Devils looking to bring in a centre-forward ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
The 20-time English champions are said to be prepared to pay Kane £300,000 a week to make the move to the club in the upcoming market.
However, a recent report claimed that Tottenham will refuse to sell the striker this summer even if he makes it clear that he will not be signing an extension to his current deal, which expires next June.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Man United are wary of entering into lengthy negotiations with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy over Kane this summer.
The Red Devils will enter Thursday's clash in North London off the back of a penalty-shootout win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Matt Law
