Report: Mourinho eyeing Harry Kane for Manchester United

Potential Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has targetted Tottenham goal machine Harry Kane as his primary transfer objective should he be named as Louis van Gaal's replacement in the summer.

That's a lot of what if's surrounding speculation about the England international's future, despite a report suggesting that the mercurial gaffer is monitoring Kane, according to ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney.

Confident that he'll be named Van Gaal's predecessor once the season ends in mid-May, the former Chelsea boss reportedly presented the club with a letter describing his plans for the Manchester giants in January.

Those objectives include transfer targets, with five first-team players pegged to be brought in to bolster an erratic side.

Even with £104.63 million spent on summer acquisitions Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian, and Morgan Schneiderlin, injuries have left the club short in several areas this season.

In attacking positions, a long-term injury for Wayne Rooney has forced the gaffer's hand, opting to start 18-year-old academy product Marcus Rashford, highlighting the need for more depth in the No. 9 position.

That's where Kane comes into play.

The London-born 22-year-old has overcome a slow start to join Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy as the Premier League joint-top scorer with 19 goals, leading Spurs to their best title shot in years.