Although he never publicly stated it, Harry Kane’s desire to leave Spurs in search of trophies at an elite club had been one of football’s worst-kept secrets for years.
Now, Kane has finally got his wish, by securing a £100 million transfer to Bayern Munich. But before his departure to Germany, one club’s name kept cropping up in the constant rumours surrounding Kane’s future, and it was the name of Manchester United.
Plenty have had their say about where Kane should have gone. But when it comes to the Munich or United debate, there’s an early chance for the record to be put straight on the football pitch as Bayern and the Red Devils have been drawn together in Group A of the Champions League.
Who is more likely to win the Champions League?
In the betting to win the Champions League, Munich are 11/2, with Manchester United at 20/1. United’s cross-town rivals, City are favourites at 2/1. In the latest football fixtures betting odds between the teams, Munich are 4/7 favourites to beat United when they go head-to-head in Bavaria. United are 4/1 to pull off a shock win, with the draw at 10/3.
The match gives Kane the ideal opportunity to show why he made the call to go to Bavaria.
Okay, so the Red Devils know all about Kane from his time at Spurs, but he will be spearheading a different beast when Erik ten Hag’s team faces him at the Allianz Arena on Matchday 1.
Harry Kane has agreed to join Bayern Munich on a four-year contract, per @David_Ornstein 🔴 pic.twitter.com/FuHdRD7MoK
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 10, 2023
Munich are a footballing juggernaut, and Kane in that team will be even more lethal and should give United’s defence an even more torrid night than they would have had without him when the teams meet later this month.
Were United ever in the race to sign Harry Kane?
Despite being forever linked, were the Red Devils ever really genuine contenders to sign Harry Kane? The club’s name was linked in various media outlets during the 2023 summer transfer window, but there was nothing concrete.
Manchester United are currently looking at other options for new striker as Harry Kane deal is not advancing at all 🚨🔴 #MUFC
Man Utd feel Tottenham never wanted to sell Kane to them and have no plans to enter into two-months saga.
Rasmus Højlund, one of the names in the list. pic.twitter.com/N0v8qd99PC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 14, 2023
They were linked with Kane in previous years as well. But back then, even Manchester City couldn’t prise the England striker away from Spurs, such was the bargaining position of Daniel Levy.
United have splashed out big on transfers in the past, and as the signing of Casemiro in 2022 showed, they are prepared to pay big for players around the 30-year-old mark.
But they have to be given the green light from the player first.
Just because the club didn’t go in all guns blazing, doesn’t mean they did or didn’t want to sign him. It could simply be the case that Kane’s representatives made it clear early on that the player didn’t see United as a possible destination.
Kane has made the best option that was available to him
Manchester City attempted to sign Harry Kane in 2021, and their efforts failed. That ship has now long sailed for Kane, and Guardiola went in a different direction.
So with the door to Manchester City closed, along with Kane’s high valuation, the striker’s options were limited. Bayern Munich or PSG were about the only two options available to Kane. Yes, Man Utd and Chelsea could afford him, maybe even Liverpool.
But the facts are that Kane wanted trophies, and he saw Munich as his best option.
