Meet the two powerful executives who are blocking Manchester United's dream transfer plans

If Daniel Levy and Aurelio De Laurentiis sat down together in a bar, it would be interesting to see who would get the initial round of drinks in.

Perhaps the pair would sit down and stubbornly wait for the other to make the first move. The deadlock might only be broken by someone ordering free tap water, with the other stoically looking on and refusing to budge.

That sounds like an awful night out and, thankfully, Levy and De Laurentiis are not in the same social circles. Levy is a part-owner of Tottenham, De Laurentiis is the Napoli owner, and their similarities probably end with their knack to drive hard bargains.

Both Levy and De Laurentiis are infamously tricky negotiators in football and, unfortunately for Manchester United, they will ultimately have the last say on the futures of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen.

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It's no secret that Erik ten Hag wants a striker and he's been described as 'obsessed' with the prospect of signing Kane, while it's understood Osimhen, who scored 31 goals this season, is another high on the shortlist at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford was responsible for 27 per cent of the team's goals this season and Antony, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho and Wout Weghorst scored just 26 goals between them.

With the exception of Erling Haaland, Kane and Osimhen were the deadliest strikers in Europe this season and it's no surprise they're being considered by United, but a deal for either player is expected to be difficult to complete.

Although Kane is heading into the final year of his deal and it would be logical to cash in now, Levy would rather risk him leaving on a free transfer in 2024 than sanction a departure for his golden goose