Manchester United want to make Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane a mouth-watering £600,000 ($750,000)-a-week strike partnership to win back the title.

Keeper David de Gea is United’s highest earner on £375,000 ($468,000) a week but the 32-year-old, out of contract this summer, will drop his wages after receiving a new £200,000 ($250,000) offer.

Star striker Rashford, 25, has just over 12 months left on his deal and the Red Devils are fighting to tie him down to fresh terms, increasing his wages from £200,000 to £300,000 ($375,000) a week.

Tottenham and England record scorer Kane earns £200,000 a week but United will increase his pay packet by £100,000. Three Lions captain Kane, who turns 30 in July, also has bonuses for goals scored and honours achieved – the same as Rashford.

As revealed last month, United, who have not won the title since 2013, were confident of signing Kane this summer if Spurs finished outside the Champions League places. After their 6-1 capitulation to Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday, a top-four finish looks increasingly unlikely.

Spurs are six points behind United ahead of Thursday’s home clash with Erik ten Hag’s FA Cup finalists. If the Red Devils win, then the £100 million ($125 million) asking price for Kane will dramatically reduce as the striker enters the final 12 months of his contract and heading towards the latter end of his career.

Spurs will be hit in the pocket from finishing outside the top four. United are currently fourth on goal difference behind Newcastle but with a game in hand. And they are desperate for a player to ease 28-goal Rashford’s burden.

• The Sun report