Bayern Munich’s newest striker found himself at the heart of a transfer saga that saw him go from yearning for a move to Manchester United to becoming a key asset for the Bundesliga champions.
Harry Kane’s desire to join Manchester United was no secret, with the English striker eager to don the Red Devils’ jersey. Erik ten Hag, at the time, had placed Kane at the top of his transfer wish list, envisioning the Englishman as a pivotal addition to his squad.
However, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy made it abundantly clear that he had no intentions of selling his star player to a direct Premier League rival, leaving Manchester United with little room to negotiate. The club swiftly shifted their focus and secured the services of 20-year-old Danish sensation Rasmus Hojlund for a hefty £72 million.
This unexpected turn of events provided Bayern Munich with the perfect opportunity to swoop in. The Bundesliga champions escalated their interest in Kane, eventually agreeing to a deal worth over £100 million with Tottenham, securing the services of their all-time leading goalscorer.
According to The Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler, Manchester United was Harry Kane’s first choice over Bayern Munich. “Harry Kane would have waited until next summer to sign for Manchester United if he was given assurances over a move to Old Trafford, United Confidential can exclusively reveal.”
“Kane had set his heart on United and would have seen out the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs before signing for Erik ten Hag’s side as a free agent next year if he knew the deal was guaranteed to go ahead.”
Wheeler adds, “Kane was prepared to defy Spurs and sit tight for another 12 months if he felt United were prepared to keep the door open for him.”
Kane’s transition to Bayern Munich has been nothing short of a fairytale. In his initial five games for the German giants, he has already found the back of the net four times, showcasing his undeniable talent on the pitch.
The stage is now set for a thrilling showdown between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in a Group A fixture of the Champions League. Kane will undoubtedly be eager to prove to the Red Devils what they missed out on by not securing his services.
As reported by the The Athletic, Erik ten Hag, along with some members of the Old Trafford staff, believed that Kane could have transformed Manchester United into genuine title contenders. However, the club’s co-owner Joel Glazer and chief executive Richard Arnold ultimately decided that pursuing Kane was not a justifiable use of resources, especially considering his age.
The financial demands associated with the transfer were substantial, as Kane was reportedly seeking an annual wage of £30 million (equivalent to about £500,000 per week), in addition to the expected transfer fee exceeding £100 million. In light of these costs and Kane’s age, Manchester United deemed the expenditure too high for a 30-year-old player.
