Manchester United and England great Wayne Rooney had backed Harry Kane to break his international scoring record, and believes the Tottenham forward is an ideal player to build a team around.
Standard Sport understands that United are interested in signing Kane this summer, though Tottenham have no intention of selling their star striker to the Red Devils - even for a reported £200million transfer fee.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking at Kane along with the likes of Erling Haaland as he seeks a new striker, and Rooney - who holds both all-time goal records for United (253) and England (53) - thinks it is only a matter of time before Kane is out in front for the Three Lions.
Rooney believes Kane is the closest he has seen to former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, writing for The Times: "His biggest strength is finishing and he strikes the ball so well that from 20 yards or closer he should be looking to hit it whenever possible.
"Harry is a classic No.9, the closest I’ve seen to Ruud. If I were building a team, he’s the one I’d start with. Harry Kane: there’s my No.9. Then I’d build the rest around him."
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The Derby player-coach also said he would be telling Kane "to stay high as that No.9" after seeing him drop deeper in the last two seasons.
"How did I become a record-breaker if I wasn't a natural scorer? Time," Rooney said.
"I played for United for 13 years, England for 15 years. I had time to break those records - and looking back I should have scored more.
"I don't think it will take long for Harry Kane to claim my England record and it would be a proud moment for me.
"I've never been a selfish player and it would be great for England for Harry to get there.
"Bobby Charlton had to wait 50 years - I hope it's not so long for me.
"The United record might last longer simply because players don't stay at clubs as long as they used to.
"Mind you, if Messi or Ronaldo came to Old Trafford for a swansong they'd probably break it in three or four years."
