Manchester United might have already missed the best moment to sign Harry Kane

When it comes to deciding between Manchester United's two leading striker targets this summer, it is a trade-off between a player who can offer instant delivery over a shorter time scale or a forward who could deliver long-term, but might take time to settle in.

If United follow Erik ten Hag's instincts and try and do a deal for Tottenham striker Harry Kane then they know what they will be getting next season. Kane has gone past 17 Premier League goals for the ninth season in a row and even wearing the red of United next season, he would be almost guaranteed to make it 10. Alan Shearer's Premier League goalscoring record looks certain to fall.

The alternative target, Napoli's Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, has only ever scored more than 14 league goals in a season once and that is this term. But the 24-year-old has 19 goals in 21 games in Serie A and has looked like he could be one of the most complete strikers in Europe.

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Osimhen has always had potential. His 18 goals in 38 games for Lille was respectable and 18 in 32 in all competitions for Napoli last season was encouraging. He has exploded this season in a team running away with Serie A and in the hunt for the Champions League.

But the Premier League would be a new challenge for Osimhen and as good as he's been this season, there is no guarantee he would hit the ground running in England. You would probably edge towards Kane providing more goals for United next season.

That is not the only metric that can decide which way United will fall, however. Ten Hag appears certain to push for Kane, but football director John Murtough will have his say and either deal is dependent on agreeing terms with negotiators