Man Utd tipped to employ trick to land transfer as Leeds United eye midfielder with expensive release clause

It’s been a busy week in the Premier League, with a mid-week round of fixtures almost immediately followed up by this weekend’s action.

During the week, we saw Manchester City steamroll Arsenal to take full control of the title race, while Tottenham proved they do indeed have a little heart, fighting back against Manchester United. Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy rediscovered his scoring touch, and Southampton were all-but relegated to the Championship with a costly home defeat to Bournemouth.

The Premier League action is coming thick and fast at this stage of the season, and so do the transfer rumours, with the summer window just around the corner.

Clubs are already preparing to make moves, and the biggest headlin-grabber is United’s reported pursuit of Tottenham fromtman Harry Kane. Kane is out of contract in just over a year’s time, and he may finally have the leverage he needs to get out of a struggling Spurs side, and without upsetting too many people in the process.

United need a striker, and unlikely to pay the more than £100million it’s going to take to sign Victor Osimhen, Kane could be the answer, but striking a deal with Daniel Levy is no easy task, as Manchester City found out relatively recently. As for convincing Kane, United could have a secret weapon to employ, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Jones told GiveMeSport: "Kane is the captain of England, he's captain of Tottenham, what's to say he couldn't be captain of United?

"Obviously, you've got to be careful around that as you don't want to rock the boat and upset Harry Maguire, David De Gea, Bruno Fernandes, or whoever feels that they have a right to be United captain next season. But, if you're signing Kane, I think you have to give serious consideration to whether he's a contender to have the armband."

United are also being linked with a move for RB Salzburg star Benjamin Sesko, but Newcastle are also said to be interested, despite splashing out a club-record fee to land Alexander Isak last summer.

“Sesko is a huge, huge talent at just 19,” insider Graeme Bailey told TeamTALK.

“I have spoken to a number of scouts, and many clubs truly believe the ceiling for him is staggering. Whilst not calling him the new Haaland, many believe that his level could become that – so don’t be surprised that if some Premier League clubs come calling, Leipzig could double their money without him even playing for them.

“We know both Manchester United and Newcastle have liked him for more than 12 months, and both of those could be tempted. Man Utd are obviously in the market for a new number nine, but Newcastle too – there is a real chance I am hearing that Callum Wilson could be moved on this summer, leaving the earth clear for another forward.”

Away from Man Utd, and to another United in Leeds. It’s hard to take Leeds rumours seriously until they know their fate, given they could well suffer relegation to the Championship this season, all-but ending their chances of getting their hands on a number of targets.

But it’s still worth pointing out that Record are saying the Whites are interested in a move for Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte, who has also been linked with Liverpool. The 22-year-old Uruguayan has a release clause worth around £54million, a price Leeds are not about to pay, but there could be a deal done for less.

It will be interesting to see how the Whites get on in their relegation battle, and whether they are bold in the transfer window this summer. Leeds also have an option to buy in their loan deal for Weston McKennie, so things could get interesting at Elland Road.