In the summer of 2023, Ten Hag pressured the United management to sign Harry Kane on his way away from Tottenham. Spurs boss Daniel Levy’s lofty demand for £100 million prompted United to check out other options. It ended with the signing of a Danish youngster with 34 appearances and 10 goals for Atalanta, in his first stint in one of the five biggest leagues. Now one of Ten Hag’s former assistant coaches at United is talking about the mistake of not betting everything on the second highest scoring player in Premier League history.
For the Hojlund signing, United cost £72 million. Bayern Munich’s Uli Hoeness claims the club got away with £82 million for Kane signing.
A difference of “only” ten million pounds, but a “galaxy distance” between the two in performances since the summer of 2023.
It is a not a little annoyed former United manager Benni McCarthy who takes a look back, even though he knows United would have had to pay more than Bayern for Kane.
“Harry Kane was the main target, but the price tag was obviously a problem. Because he would have left Spurs for United, a few extra million pounds were added to the price tag, which as you know, for a 30-year-old was not seen as cheating. But for £100 million, if you look at it now, you’d say it would still have been worth it, he’s still scoring,” McCarthy begins, according to Goal.
-So, yes, Harry Kane was Erik’s goal no. 1. Erik really wanted him. Kolo Muani was also very high on that list. Victor Osimhen was also on that list. But I felt that if you’re going to spend that kind of money – £100 million plus – then you want the whole package. And Harry Kane, for me, was the complete package, but unfortunately the club didn’t see it that way. as Rasmus Hojlund would in the long run be a more valued asset than investing in both Rasmus and Harry Kane. So we stopped going for Kane and we ended up getting only Rasmus.
In retrospect, there are probably not many who can disagree with the former Man United coach.
